Reports: Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh dropped for Sydney Test

Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh dropped: Reports of the Australian opening batsman and all-rounder getting dropped are doing the rounds.

If reports in News Limited are to be believed, Australia opening batsman Aaron Finch and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh are set to sit out of the final Test of the ongoing India’s tour of Australia at Sydney.

While Marnus Labuschagne is believed to replace Finch, middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb will be recalled in Marsh’s absence. Both Finch and Marsh have returned poor numbers in three Test matches.

In three matches, Finch has scored 97 runs at an average of 16.16 and a strike rate of 45.32. With him also scoring a half-century at Perth, it counts for 47 runs in five innings at the top of the order. On the other hand, Marsh scored 9 and 10 with the bat and bowled 10 wicket-less overs in the third Test.

It is worth mentioning that there hasn’t been any official statement from the Australian team management about the same as of now.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Sydney Test, Australia captain Tim Paine laid emphasis on having a ‘final look’ at the wicket before taking a call on the playing XI. “There’s ongoing discussion the last day or two but we’ll have a final look at the wicket and we’ll have our last chat then.

“We’re not too far away. As I said all along, we’ll be looking to pick the best XI that we think is the best combination to win this Test and the wicket will play a part in that,” Paine was quoted as saying to the media.

Highlighting his ability to play the spinners, Paine advocated for Handscomb playing in the middle-order. “If we think India were to play two spinners, Pete [Peter Handscomb] could be a really important player for us,” Paine said.

“We know how good a player of spin he is. That’s one of the discussions we’ll be having today, if we think India will go that way and if they are, are we prepared to bring him back in.

“I’m sure if he does [play], he’s an excellent player of spin and contributes a lot to the group in the field and around the team. He’s a bit like Marnus in that he’s a very good package, a good person around our team,” Paine concluded.

Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Paine below: