How ‘completely different’ Finch conquered again

Aaron Finch's monster World Cup century was the culmination of his own substantial technical makeover, revealed assistant coach Ricky Ponting, the origins of which stem from a tour that also marked the beginning of Australia's one-day international resurgence.

Finch's rich vein of form continued at his "second home" at The Oval as he peeled off a dominant 153 from just 132 balls, the highest score of his ODI career, to lead Australia to a comfortable win over Sri Lanka.

Ponting, whose 140 in the 2003 final was the highest score by an Australian at a men's World Cup before Finch’s knock on Saturday, has had an important hand in helping the 32-year-old bed down his recent tweaks to his batting approach.

It's understood Finch made the most significant change, which has seen him open up his stance in a bid to avoid being struck on the pads, before the third ODI of Australia's tour of India earlier this year.

Image Id: 0032AAA2B28745C0ADA7F7E527E19426 Image Caption: Aaron Finch's batting stance has changed between Boxing Day (left) and the World Cup (right)

Few international batters would be prepared to make such a major technical alteration midway through a series. But Finch bit the bullet and the change paid immediate dividends. After breaking a torrid form slump to post 93 in that match in Ranchi, he's passed 50 eight times in 13 innings, hit three tons and averaged 76.16.

The Australian team's one-day form has mirrored their captain's, losing just one match since Finch made the shift. 

"I've spent a fair bit of time working with him, but just working with him on the things he's (already) been changing," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

Image Id: EFBDAFA6316A4B72B6A2598486C20ED5 Image Caption: Ponting spending time with Finch in the nets during the Australia summer // Getty

"His whole set up is completely different … He's made some significant changes to his technique. You can see the way he's setting up now, he's setting up a lot more leg-side of the ball to give himself more access to the ball to hit the ball down the ground.

"Before he was covering his off-stump and getting a long away across his stumps.

"He's forgotten about his off-stump now and almost setting up down a leg-stump line and allowing him to use his hands a little more.

"When you see a batsman straight driving the ball like he is, it's a really good sign.

"It's probably something he hasn't been able to do for the majority of his career."

Ponting has told Finch not to be afraid of getting out to edges behind the wicket, urging him to trust his natural hand-eye coordination.

His skill at doing that was on display at The Oval, where he's had successful recent stints with county side Surrey.

Image Id: 0DD8D8F531B340D598B968ADAABBAEE4 Image Caption: Finch celebrates a century for Surrey with current England opener Jason Roy // Getty

Off the very first ball he faced, Finch punched a good-length ball from Nuwan Pradeep to the cover boundary, before playing a series of well-timed strokes back down the ground for boundaries.

"I've seen it for a couple of weeks to be honest," Ponting said of Finch's good form. "Someone like him, who's strong off front and back foots, the margin for error (for bowlers) becomes very small.

"The first ball he played today was just back of a length and just outside off stump and he hit a beautiful back-foot cover drive (for four) to get off the mark.

"When you see guys picking up length quickly, punching the ball through the off-side off the back foot and then being able to drive the ball down the ground on the front foot - I know having been there before, it's a good place to be as a batsman.

"I know he had there lean run for a while but (recently) it's been the prolific Aaron Finch we're used to seeing at the top of the order.

"Today's innings, 153 in a World Cup game, that's probably as well I've seen him play."

Ponting has also been impressed by Finch's tactical acumen, noting recent comments from his former Ashes adversary Michael Vaughan that the current Australian skipper is the most strategically astute captain at this World Cup.

The reigning 50-over world champions have had to deal with an injury to their only allrounder in Marcus Stoinis, leaving Finch a bowler light to call upon in their most recent two games.

But Ponting praised how Finch had juggled an imbalanced side.

"I think the important thing for him as opening batter and captain is you have to be able to separate both jobs," the two-time World Cup-winning former skipper said.

"You know as a top-order batsman, it's your job to score runs and get the side off to a good start. When the batting's done, it's then time to focus on the captaincy stuff and getting the fields right and the bowling changes right.

"I think he's managed both jobs really well so far.

"Even today, the last couple of games when we haven’t been able to put our best balanced team out with an allrounder not being there, the way he's been able to handle the bowlers, the four seamers in particular (has been good).

"He's got a very clear mind about his game, and when you're batting well as well, it makes the captaincy a lot easier as well." 

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE