Katich calls for Finch switch

Former Test opener Simon Katich has called for Aaron Finch to move down Australia's batting order for the first Domain Test of the summer despite encouraging returns in his debut series in the United Arab Emirates.

Finch has earned the backing of skipper Tim Paine to continue in the opening role having averaged 45 in four innings against Pakistan, but has had limited experience taking on the new ball at JLT Sheffield Shield level.

The Victorian hasn't opened in a Shield game in nearly five years and has 148 runs at 18.50 in eight innings batting there, though he has performed the role for Australia A in 2011 and 2013 tours to Africa while he’s thrived in the role in the limited-overs arena.

The decision to partner Finch with regular No.3 Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the UAE was explained as a move made specifically for low, slow subcontinental conditions, where spinners often take the new ball.

And after outscoring all but Khawaja in the 0-1 series defeat to Pakistan, Katich says Finch deserves to be retained but suggested he's better suited to a role in the middle order.

"Aaron Finch's best place in this batting line up is at five, purely for these conditions," Katich told radio station SEN on Wednesday.

"I know he had a good start to his Test career in the UAE but the conditions here in Australia are so different against the new ball with more pace and bounce.

"Australia need to set up their innings with their top three. They did it very well in the UAE with Finch and Khawaja doing the job, but I think in Australia it's a different kettle of fish.

"India have got a good pace attack … the fast bowlers they've got at their disposal now, they've got a good battery that are all around the 140kph mark.

"The other thing about Finch batting at five is he is a good player of spin coming out against an older ball with the spinners on, someone like (ace off-spinner Ravichandran) Ashwin bowling or potentially Kuldeep Yadav, he'll have a big role to play."

Katich's call echoes the one made by former Australia coach Darren Lehmann, who has also suggested Finch is better off in the middle order, where he has averaged close to 50 over the past three Shield seasons.

A further challenge to the right-hander taking on the new ball against India will be his heavy white-ball diet in the opening stages of the summer. Finch is yet to play a Shield match this summer due to national limited-overs duties, though he could feature in Victoria's match against Queensland from November 27.

Paine however recently suggested there were no moves afoot to demote Finch.

"I think 'Finchy' deserves that (opening) spot," Paine told cricket.com.au recently. "He got picked on weight of runs in all formats of the game and in Dubai he was our best batsman, apart from Usman.

"I think he's earned the right to open the batting. But going forward, who knows? We know Aaron can bat anywhere from one to six so that's a real positive for us and for him."

As Australia sweat on the fitness of Khawaja, who is in a race against the clock after recently undergoing knee surgery, Matthew Renshaw could also come into calculations for a recall.

Renshaw was omitted for the UAE series after suffering a series of untimely injury blows but has the chance to impress against a star-studded Blues attack in a Shield match in Canberra from Friday.

"It's a good challenge for (Renshaw)," Katich said of the Queensland-NSW clash. "If he knows he can get runs and he gets picked, it's going to do his confidence the world of good leading into the Test series against India.

"It's just a shame he didn't get to play that Test series in the UAE because he was coming off a really good winter period in England playing for Somerset.

"He batted at three there so he's shown he's adaptable, he could potentially bat at three if they decide to keep Finch at the top of the order and depending on what happens with Khawaja's injury.

"This week for him is a big week."

India Tour of Australia 2018-19

Gillette T20s v India

First T20: November 21, the Gabba

Second T20: November 23, MCG

Third T20: November 25, SCG

Domain Tests v India

First Test: December 6-10, Adelaide Oval

Second Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 3-7, SCG

Gillette ODI Series v India

First ODI: January 12, SCG (D/N)

Second ODI: January 15, Adelaide Oval (D/N)

Third ODI: January 18, MCG (D/N)