Finch top scores as Surrey fight

Test aspirant Aaron Finch top scored for Surrey in the County Championship on Sunday as he continues to push for a spot in Australia’s squad to face Pakistan.

Finch struck 43 against Lancashire under lights in a day-night four-day fixture at The Oval.

Batting at No.4, the Victorian’s 63-ball innings featured three fours and a sole six off leg-spinner Matthew Parkinson, a lofted straight drive that sailed handsomely over the bowler’s head.

But Parkinson would have his revenge four overs later when he dismissed Finch, who was caught at second slip trying to turn a leg-break to the on-side that pitched outside leg stump.

Surrey were all out for 211 as opening bowler Tom Bailey claimed 5-53 with the pink ball, while South Australia’s Joe Mennie picked up 2-46.

On an opening day dominated by the bowlers, Surrey collected six Lancashire wickets before stumps to reduce the visitors to 6-134, with evergreen West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten at the crease on 25.

With Australia’s squad for the two-Test tour of the UAE against Pakistan expected to be named at the conclusion of Australia A’s pair of four-day matches in India on September 11, Finch has two first-class games for Surrey to press his claims for selection.

Following the Lancashire match, Surrey host Nottinghamshire from August 29 before traveling to Chelmsford to face Essex starting September 4.

The Essex match is set to pit Finch against his Victorian teammate Peter Siddle, who claimed 3-71 against Somerset at Taunton yesterday.

Finch’s Test hopes have skyrocketed following an incredible run of form in limited-overs cricket; he’s averaged 62 in ODI cricket since last September, is averaging 136 in England’s domestic T20 competition and posted a new world record for the highest T20 international score against Zimbabwe in Harare last month.

While the format and conditions are expected to be vastly different in the UAE to the ones Finch has thrived in during recent months, there is no currency in cricket more valuable than runs.

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann said this month that he believes Finch is capable of playing Test cricket, adding that the right-hander was “close” to selection during his time at the helm.

"He can play Test cricket, there's no doubt about that," Lehmann told the Geelong Advertiser.

"He's confident in the way he plays spin bowling, he can take an attack on, and leading into this Pakistan series he's a really good chance to be selected for that one.

"He was always knocking on the door, but he just hadn't made runs consistently.

"But his last couple of Shield years have been pretty good. If you take a look at his numbers, they're right up there.

"He probably could've made a few more hundreds and pushed his case even further but he's one player we talked about quite a lot.

"He's close, and when I was coach, he was close. He's probably closer now."