It has been a somewhat bleak series for Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch with the bat against Sri Lanka, which finished with him being demoted down the order, however, wicket-keeper Matthew Wade has slammed talk that he should be replaced.
Finch's position in the team - despite his captaincy - has been under fire for some time.
A weak World Cup in the United Arab Emirates despite the team winning the tournament for the first time, as well as poor form back at home against Sri Lanka has major questions being asked over his ability to remain in the team.
It would appear unlikely he will be replaced as captain in a World Cup year, however, given his form, the possibility exists.
While Australia beat Sri Lanka 4-1 in the five-game series, Finch made scores of 8, 25, 35, 2 and 8 during the series, moving down the order in Game 3, 4, and 5. His 35 in Canberra came at worse than a run a ball and threatened to dig a hole for the home side.
Speaking to the media following Game 5 though, Wade said Finch is a class player and, in a similar fashion to David Warner who was majorly out of form before the World Cup where he ended as the second-highest run-scorer, should be kept in the team.
“It feels like these questions have come before, potentially before the last World Cup, and after the first couple of games about David,” Wade said after Australia’s thrilling five-wicket loss to Sri Lanka.
“Everyone had their say about Davey, and he got player of the tournament in the World Cup.
“Finchy is a class player and I’ve heard people questioning where he’s at. He averages 40 and strikes at 140 for a reason because he’s a class player, he’s the captain of our team.
“The questions are always going to come when you get a little bit older and you don’t do well in one series or not the next.
“But they’re class players for a reason and the best that we’ve had in T20 cricket ever and I don’t expect any change at the top of the order to be honest.
“Those two will be there in the World Cup, I’m confident in that and when the big game comes they’ll nail it.”
Australia's next short form assignment will be three ODIs and one T20 in Pakistan, which follow a three-Test series in what is the first tour to the sub-continent nation in 24 years.
Many of the Test players are expected to return home after the red-ball series, painting another challenge for Finch who could be captaining a vastly different team.
