Australia’s spirit still high despite lack of training

By Akeem Greene

Australia’s opening batsman Aaron Finch has explained that his team’s confidence is still high despite them not

being able to conduct outdoor training sessions since their arrival in Guyana on Tuesday morning due to the persistent rainfall.

In speaking to media operatives on Wednesday at the team’s hotel in Kingston ahead of the Tri-Nation series, the player said, “everyone is feeling good, I think the couple of days in New York was a fantastic time for everyone, it gave us a chance to get over a bit of jet lag but also bond as a group…unfortunately the weather is telling, so unfortunately no training today [Wednesday] but I’m sure we will work pretty hard in the gym”.

The attacking batsmen explained that the preparation camp they had in Australia before the series will put them in good stead if practice sessions are reduced because of the weather.

“I still think we will be confident, there are a lot of guys who have been in India for the best part of three and a half months through the World T20 and the IPL [Indian Premier League ] so I don’t see it as being a huge issue” Finch posited.

He further stated, “I think the guys back in Australia had a great hit out and great preparation up in Brisbane before they came so I don’t see it as being disastrous, obviously it would be ideal to get out there and have a hit to assess the local conditions”.

The Australians are scheduled to have a training session at the National Stadium, Providence from 14:00 hrs today.

Favourites Tag

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has labeled the World Champions, who are also ranked number one in One Day International (ODI), as the favourites for the series; when quizzed on the “favourite tag, Finch was in full agreement.

“Absolutely, we are still favourites, we have had good success all over the world, we are the number one team in the world for a reason; we have played some great cricket over the last two to three years including the World Cup, so there is no reason why we should not be favourites”.

He added, “Obviously the South African team and the West Indies have two quality sides so that does not mean anything going into it but I think at the same time we appreciate the position we are in as number one in the world and also we have put a lot of hard work into that so it is going to be a great competition and its going to be tough on wickets we have not played on”.

The series will bowl-off on Friday with West Indies playing South Africa from 13:00 hrs and the men from “down-under” will wear their canary yellow when they play the home side on Sunday followed by a match against South Africa on Tuesday.

After the first round of matches in Guyana, the tournament will head to Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis for three more games and will conclude in Barbados with the final round of three matches and the grand final at the Kensington Oval on June 26.

Australia Squad : Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.([email protected])