Australia turn to former Yorkshire star Finch for T20 job

Former Yorkshire batsman Aaron Finch has been named Australia’s Twenty20 team captain after George Bailey stepped down from the role.
Aaron Finch (Picture: Steve Riding).Aaron Finch (Picture: Steve Riding).
Aaron Finch (Picture: Steve Riding).

Finch is currently the No 1 ranked T20 batsman in the world and recently spent the summer at Headingley where he starred with the bat in both the T20 and County Championship.

The 27-year-old also has the highest score in the short format of the international game, scoring 156 off 63 balls against England in 2013.

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“Having the honour to captain your country in any form of the game is something that all young cricketers dream about,” said Finch.

Finch’s first game as captain will be against Pakistan on October 5 in Dubai.

“Aaron has gained quality leadership experience through his role as captain of the Melbourne Renegades and the Pune Warriors,” said Australia national selector Rod Marsh.

After the Dubai game, Australia face Pakistan in three one-day internationals and two Tests in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.

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Saeed Ajmal has been suspended from bowling for Pakistan after the International Cricket Council ruled his action is illegal.

It has been deemed by the ICC that the 36-year-old spinner straightened his arm by more than 15 degrees in all of his deliveries while he was being tested in Brisbane.

The ICC’s decision means 
Ajmal is immediately unavailable to bowl in international cricket and the ban will remain until he modifies his action before he can apply for a re-assessment.

Ajmal, Worcestershire’s overseas player earlier this season, underwent testing Down Under on August 25 by the ICC’s accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Centre, who ruled his action was illegal.

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Luke Procter justified his recall with an unbeaten 81 as Lancashire mounted a spirited fightback on the first day of their LV County Championship Division One match against Sussex at Hove.

With two games to go, Lancashire are 12 points adrift of safety, having played a game more than their rivals, and when they slumped to 192-8 shortly after tea relegation was looming large.

But Procter organised some solid resistance from the tail, adding 68 in 26 overs with Simon Kerrigan before James Anderson, who was making only his eighth Championship appearance since 2011, helped the left-hander thrash 60 in seven overs for the last wicket as Lancashire were bowled out for 320.

Procter faced 155 balls and hit six fours in his crucial knock.