Finch doubtful for first ODI
Big-hitting Australia opener Aaron Finch aggravated his right calf injury during a practice session and is facing a race against time to be fit for the first ODI against India on September 17.
Finch got injured during practice at the M A Chidambaram Stadium and pulled out of the rest of the session, cricket.com.au reported.
In the event of Finch being ruled out of the first game, Australia may turn to Travis Head or Hilton Cartwright, the report said.
The Victorian had been rested from Australia's warm-up match on Tuesday due to the injury, which he suffered while playing for Surrey in England six weeks ago.
Uncapped all-rounder Cartwright opened in Finch's absence in the warm-up game, but was dismissed for a second-ball duck in Australia's 103-run win.
Australia's stand-in coach David Saker had indicated earlier that Head was the "preferred choice" for the No.4 slot in the line-up.
The left-hander, during an interaction with the media here this afternoon, said he would be happy to bat up the order.
"Hopefully I'll get the chance to go up the order again and bat at No.4," he said.
Head has also said his team has some exceptional fielders, who can turn the match in pressure situations.
"Fielding could win or lose you a game. I guess the Australians pride themselves on their fielding and we have worked hard on that skill," Head told reporters.
"Make sure we go in and do that in pressure situations. We have some extremely good fielders, yes. We have seen guys who can win games with their fielding," he said.
Talking about the batting line-up, Head said, "We have got David (Warner) and Steve (Smith), who are in great touch and also (Matthew) Wade. (Marcus) Stoinis batted really well the other day and James Faulkner has done that before.
“We don't rely on one person. Most of the batters came in and got a hit out there and bowlers did the same thing in the practice game."
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