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Finch victim of UAE success: Maxwell

Melbourne Stars captain discusses Test axing of his close mate, provides update on fitness of Nic Maddinson

Aaron Finch is a "victim of his own success" after being dropped following five Tests as an opening batsman, according to teammate and close friend Glenn Maxwell.

Finch was today dropped from Australia's Test side after five successive Tests dating back to his debut against Pakistan in Dubai in October, having opened the batting in all of them.

While Finch acquitted himself well against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, where batting is commonly perceived to be easiest when facing the hard, new ball, he has struggled to make an impact against India on home soil.

Maxwell, a former housemate and current national teammate in the shorter forms, said he hoped Finch would get another opportunity to prove himself as a Test cricketer in the middle order.

"I hope that (being dropped) doesn't finish Finch off as a Test cricketer and hopefully next time he gets an opportunity he can bat in a position that I think – and a lot of Australia thinks – he's more accustomed to," Maxwell said today.

"He was probably a victim of his own success in the UAE. Having batted so well as an opener there it probably drove the Australia selectors and coaches to put him up there (against India) and I suppose that was fair enough.

"Hopefully at some stage he gets an opportunity to bat in the middle order and show the class he does have."

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Finch returns to the Melbourne Renegades, but will not feature in tonight's clash with the Adelaide Strikers in Geelong. Instead, his first game of this year's KFC BBL season will come on January 7 against the Hobart Hurricanes.

It appears likely that would be the only game Finch could play before he captains Australia's one-day side in the three-match Gillette ODI series against India that begins on January 12.

A two-Test series against Sri Lanka follows, but Maxwell is not expecting to be dusting off the Baggy Green he last wore against Bangladesh in September 2017.

"They (selectors) think that I've got enough opportunities to have shown what I've got in the Test arena, and they weren't happy with what they saw," Maxwell said.

"Look, if I can pile some more runs on at the back end of this summer who knows, but, yeah, it's too hard to concentrate on anything too far ahead.

"They've picked their squad at the moment and I wish them all the best. I'll be watching – I love watching the game – so I'll be still watching them."

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Maxwell will lead his Melbourne Stars to the Gold Coast for Saturday's 'home' game against the Sydney Thunder at Metricon Stadium where they will be seeking a third win on the bounce.

Batsman Nic Maddinson is travelling with the squad, but will not be rushed back following his broken arm during a JLT Sheffield Shield match on the eve of the BBL.

"If you ask him he's ready to play," Maxwell said of the Stars' key signing this season.

"The fact we won the last two means we can take a little bit more of a cautious approach to him. If we were 0-4 I'd be pushing to get him back as soon as possible.

"We know he's a quality player and it would be great to have him out on the field for us.

"For us to get the most to get out of him and the best out of him, it's best to take the cautious view. He did break his arm pretty severely less than a month ago, so a couple of extra games (on the sidelines) won't hurt."