Finch to skipper Vics, McKay recalled

Aaron Finch will captain Victoria in their Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia later this week, less than one month after being overlooked for the Bushrangers’ first match of the season.

Finch, captain of Australia’s Twenty20 side and Melbourne Renegades in the KFC Big Bash League, will lead the Victorian side in the Shield match at the WACA beginning on Friday, as usual skipper Matthew Wade continues to be sidelined with a fractured collarbone.

Peter Siddle skippered Victoria in their most recent match - also against the Warriors - but is part of the Australia Test squad for the third Commonwealth Bank Test against New Zealand in Adelaide, which is due to start 60 minutes later than the Shield clash.

Finch was left out of the Bushrangers’ XI for their first match of the first-class season against Queensland last month after a disappointing Matador BBQs One-Day Cup campaign, but was recalled after scoring an unbeaten double-hundred for a CA XI side against New Zealand.

He posted 79 and 7 in Victoria’s draw against the Warriors at the MCG.

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Pacemen Clint McKay and Chris Tremain have been called into the Bushrangers squad in the place of Siddle and fellow Test squad member James Pattinson.

McKay last played four-day cricket for Victoria in November last year and is coming off an impressive season with Leicestershire where he claimed 58 wickets in 12 matches.

McKay was an integral part of Australia's ODI team between 2010-14 but the 32-year-old has found himself on the outer at both international and state level over the past year.

Victorian Chairman of Selectors Andrew Lynch said McKay had earned another opportunity.

"McKay worked very hard over the off-season to get himself 'bowling fit'," Lynch said.

"He was unlucky not to get a game in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and he bowled really well in the recent Futures League game.

"Tremain has always played his role when he has been in the side and we are confident that he will do that again in this game."

Bushrangers squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Aaron Ayre, Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain