Finch downplays ODI skipper role

Aaron Finch has downplayed suggestions he could be in line to take over Australia's one-day captaincy, instead focusing on building a solid T20 squad.

Finch served as Tim Paine's deputy during the ODI series that England won 5-0, and the wicketkeeper admitted to an uncertain future at the helm of the 50-over side in the wake of Australia's first ever whitewash by England. 

The switch to the T20 format for Wednesday night's one-off against England and the tri-series with Zimbabwe and Pakistan that follows also brings a change of captain with Finch at the helm.

For the Victorian it's a resumption of the role he first held in 2014. Finch has captained Australia's T20 side nine times out of the 36 internationals he's played. He's also captained the ODI side on two occasions, but does not covet the job. 

"Honestly, I have not thought about it one bit," he said when quizzed on the role. 

"If the opportunity came up it would be an honour. I've lead the one-day side a couple of times before, I had the T20 role a few years back. But it's nothing that I've ever thought about. 

"Tim is the captain and did a great job throughout the (ODI) series. 

"It was disappointing that we didn't back up his leadership as well as we could have with our performance. We just let ourselves slip a couple of times."

Finch instead is focused on the twin aims of securing the World No.1 ranking and building a squad for the World T20 that will be played in Australia in 2020.

The first can be achieved by continuing the side's successful run in the shortest format and accounting for Pakistan, the current top-ranked side, when they meet in Zimbabwe. 

The longer-term goal is one Finch hopes to see rectify the one blank spot in Australia's trophy cabinet. The country has never won the men's World T20, the only major global trophy to elude them. 

"I think it's just really important we start to nail down some continuity in our team and start to really make sure we're looking with one eye to the World T20 in 2020," Finch said. 

"That (tri-series) will be an opportunity for us to really start nutting out the way that we want to play and probably a 15-17 man squad that will carry us forward through that time. 

"Definitely no auditioning (for the ODI captaincy) or anything like that at all, it's just about trying to stay as high as we can in the rankings and keep pressing really hard in this format."

Paine had conceded his future in Australia's one-day team is up for discussion after his side slumped to a 5-0 ODI whitewash at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Paine scored just 36 runs across the five matches, the lowest ever return by an Australian ODI skipper in a five-match series, lowering the mark from the 67 Steve Waugh scored across five matches in a 1999 tri-series with India and Sri Lanka.

Alex Carey, the back-up wicketkeeper who played in the final ODI at Old Trafford with Glenn Maxwell nursing a shoulder injury, outscored Paine's series output in one knock of 44.

"It's been difficult, you play cricket to do well and this series I haven't done that," Paine said at Old Trafford in the aftermath of defeat.

"I haven’t played anywhere near as well as I would have liked to.

"That happens and it's certainly not through a lack of effort, I am trying my guts out and working really hard, I have just had one of those series.

"I started off poorly and couldn't get it back on track."

Paine's appointment as ODI skipper had been a temporary measure in the wake of the leadership vacuum created by the ball-tampering fiasco in March's Cape Town Test.

National Selector Trevor Hohns, on announcing the one-day squad for this tour, had said: "Tim is a strong leader and will captain the side for this series, supported by Aaron (Finch). A decision on a permanent one-day captain will be made in due course."

Paine continued his practice of inviting the opposition side to join his team in handshakes before the first game of the series, and has lead the way in Australian cricket's culture change along with new coach Justin Langer.

But with the ODI side not due to reconvene until early November for a three-match series against the Proteas , there is no rush to make a decision.

"I haven't thought about it to be honest. All I know is I was coming here to do this series and I've said a few times before when you are my age it's a bit foolish to look ahead," Paine said.

"Certainly, I am really looking forward to captaining the Test team and continuing how I have been playing in that format.

"But where I go with the rest of my cricket is something we will discuss in the coming weeks."

Qantas tours of the UK and Zimbabwe

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey

Qantas Tour of the UK

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: England won by three wickets at The Oval

June 16: England won by 38 runs in Cardiff

June 19: England won by 242 runs at Trent Bridge

June 21: England won by six wickets in Durham

June 24: England won by one wicket at Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final