Aussie all-rounder John Hastings believes Aaron Finch has every right to be feeling “pretty stiff” after being replaced as captain for Australia’s Twenty20 International squad.
Finch, who has served as captain of the short form game since 2014, has been replaced by Test and One-Day International skipper Steve Smith for the upcoming World T20 tournament in India.
Hastings, a fellow Victorian and close friend of Finch, thinks that he did little wrong in his time leading the team.
“I feel for Finchy, he’s one of my good mates. I haven’t had a chance to speak to him yet, I sent him a text when I found out,” Hastings said on SEN Breakfast.
“He’s done absolutely nothing wrong, and he’s a fantastic captain and I’ve played under him a number of times. So it’s pretty stiff.”
However, Hastings feels that he understands the reason for Smith’s appointment.
“I think (the selectors) thought it was the right time for Steve Smith to slide in and do all three formats,” he said.
“Obviously he has such a good cricket brain, and he’s done such a good job with the one dayers and test series over the last 12-18 months as well, since Pup’s retired.
“I think they thought it was the right time but poor old Finchy, he wasn’t to be.”
Hastings also considers that Australia has every chance to do well in the tournament despite a poor record that leaves them eighth in the T20 International rankings.
“I think we’ve got a fighting chance,” he said.
“I mean any team that puts on the Australian colours is going to have a red hot crack. That’s one thing we do know.
“The other thing is that we have a lot of good specialist T20 players in our side so it’ll be about how we get over there and adapt to conditions. We’re going to have to gel as a unit because we haven’t played together too much.”