Gillespie urges selectors to take a gamble

When Aaron Finch smacked a brilliant 156 in a Twenty20 against England two years ago, he credited the faith shown in him by Australia's selectors for helping him produce the record-breaking knock.

When Glenn Maxwell reflected midway through this summer on his reversal in form, he said confidence and belief in his ability were vital to him being able to turn his form around.

And Jason Gillespie says it's these elements - faith, confidence and belief - that are the keys for Australia's selectors to unlock the enormous potential of Finch and Maxwell at Test level.

But former Test quick Gillespie says the packed international schedule and a shortage of first-class cricket is the main obstacle facing the Victorian duo in their push for a spot in Australia's Test XI.

Gillespie is an unabashed fan of both Finch and Maxwell; the highly-rated Yorkshire coach has signed the pair for the upcoming county season, having also mentored Finch at the White Roses last year.

Finch will be available to play all three forms of the game for Yorkshire this year, while Maxwell will only feature in England's domestic T20 competition, the T20 Blast.

The Bushrangers pair, who are close friends and former housemates, are regular members of Australia's ODI and T20 sides but are yet to make an impact at Test level.

Maxwell has played three Tests – two in India in 2013 and one against Pakistan last year – while Finch hasn't yet earned a Test debut.

And Gillespie says their efforts to force their way into the Test side have been limited by a playing schedule that is more compacted than ever. 

Commitments with Australia's ODI side in a World Cup year has restricted both Finch and Maxwell to just two Bupa Sheffield Shield matches this season, one of which was abandoned after the first day due to the passing of Phillip Hughes.

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Finch and Maxwell make a rare appearance in Shield cricket // Getty

It has meant that while the duo has thrived against the white ball, they have had little opportunity to impress at first-class level and achieve their ultimate aim of a regular Test berth, something Maxwell expressed frustration at earlier in the summer.

But Gillespie is in no doubt that when the chance eventually comes, the powerful right-handers have the ability to capitalise. 

"I'm a massive fan of both those lads," Gillespie told cricket.com.au.

"I'm convinced they can both have long careers in the Baggy Green. They just need an extended opportunity.

"It can be tough to break into a Test side and you have to put performances in domestically.

"The biggest challenge is the amount of first-class cricket these guys play, it could potentially be a bit of a hindrance.

"The way the structure in Australia is set up, the Shield season is blocked. 

"Potentially just the lack of opportunity to play four-day cricket is a big obstacle.

"And I think that's why Finchy sees Yorkshire as a great opportunity.

"He'll play a lot of four-day cricket, and he'll do very well so it's a really good chance to push his case to try and break into that Test team."

Maxwell and Finch are two of the most destructive players in world cricket and have been known to thrill and frustrate in equal measure.

Finch's World Cup campaign has been a microcosm of his career to date; a magnificent, match-winning 135 against England in the opening match of the tournament has been followed by scores of 14, 4, 24, 20 and 2.

Maxwell, too, has been at his unpredictable best this season; he is averaging 75 at significantly better than a run a ball from his past nine matches for Australia, having been out of form earlier in the summer.

Maxwell's destructive performances at this World Cup have come thanks to a thrilling mix of the conventional and unconventional cricket shots, with the allrounder jokingly describing one of his strokes against Pakistan on Friday as a "back away, look away, deliberate cut through point".

Gillespie says key to the success of Finch and Maxwell in the coloured clothing has been the belief and faith from selectors, and he says a similar vote of confidence for them in Test cricket would be rewarded.

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Maxwell congratulates Finch after his century against England // Getty

"Maxwell, he's had his up and downs in a short Test career, but what we've seen is when he's been backed in 50-over and T20 cricket, he's been backed to the hilt," Gillespie said. 

"There'll be times when he doesn't come off; that's the nature of how he plays.

"But I think in Test cricket in time we're going to see a pretty special cricketer, in my view.

"And I think Finchy can have a role to play in Test cricket as well, I've got no doubt about that

"The guy strikes the ball incredibly well.

"A lot of that comes down to a bit of belief, not just from the player but the selectors and the coaches. Believe he can do it, because he can.

"I'll be really excited to see him eventually get a Baggy Green. In my opinion it could happen and should happen.

"When that day happens I'll certainly be watching with interest as a cricket spectator because I love seeing positive, aggressive cricket."

While a Baggy Green is the ultimate goal for Finch and Maxwell, their more immediate concern is Australia's World Cup semi-final against India at the SCG on Thursday.

Both players can draw on good form against MS Dhoni's side from earlier in the summer; Finch scored a match-winning 96 against them at the MCG in January while Maxwell smashed 122 from just 57 balls in a World Cup warm-up match in Adelaide.