ADELAIDE, Australia, Oct 26, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Captain Aaron Finch was
Saturday cleared to play in Australia’s opening Twenty20 against Sri Lanka,
but the team was dealt a blow with fast bowler Andrew Tye ruled out of the
series.
There were fears that Finch might not recover from a side strain he has
been nursing for a fortnight, but the batsman was given the all-clear to open
the innings with David Warner.
“I was a bit worried about throwing yesterday,” Finch told reporters in
Adelaide after a training session ahead of the first game in the city on
Sunday.
“It didn’t progress all that quickly but … the last three days it has
been really good. I have got full movement … I feel confident to go.”
But short-form specialist Tye, who is usually deployed in the final overs,
will take no part in the three-match campaign after injuring his right elbow
fielding on Friday.
Finch said Tye picked up the injury throwing the ball.
“I think it was one of the first drills he did. He was a bit off balance
and felt a bit of a pop in there,” the captain said.
A replacement is expected to be named after the game on Sunday, which marks
the return to T20 action of Warner and Steve Smith following their bans for
ball-tampering.
The pair have already been welcomed back onto the Test and one-day teams.
Despite Tye’s absence, Australia have plenty of bowling firepower in their
squad, including Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Billy Stanlake and Kane
Richardson.
After Adelaide, Australia face the Lasith Malinga-led Sri Lankans in
Brisbane and Melbourne before Pakistan arrive for T20s in Sydney, Canberra
and Perth.
The teams are all kick-starting preparations for the World Cup in Australia
next year.