With Steve Smith and David Warner set for return, captain Aaron Finch is willing to demote himself in the batting order to aid Australias title defence in the upcoming ICC World Cup.
Struggling for form in recent times with an average of 22.87 after eight innings this year, Finch said he would be fine batting at any position for the benefit of the team, cricket.com.au reported.
Insecure
His slot has become more insecure with the highly-rated Usman Khawaja displaying terrific form in the dramatic ODI series win in India recently.
If that means me batting at six, Ill comfortably do that. If its at the top, three or four, it doesnt matter, Finch said.
Personal results arent what this side is about. I think that’s what has made our improvement as dramatic and quick as it has been. If you go in solely focused on scoring a hundred or thinking, if I bat at five, Im not going to get a hundred, I dont get enough opportunity, thats not what is best, he said.
Finch and Khawaja are expected to open in the five-match series against Pakistan that starts in Sharjah on Friday, having recently produced stands of zero, three, 76, 83 and 193 in India.
To an extent, Finch addressed his concerns in the series against India, when he scored 93 in the third ODI in Ranchi.
Some people would have taken a bit more notice (of Australia) over the last couple of weeks, he said.
I still feel really good with my game... my rhythm is there. Theres probably been some times where you start doubting your technique. For me, it’s about going back to whats worked in the past, he concluded.