Aaron Finch could be in the running to be fit for the 2021 T20 World Cup as he suffered knee surgery after Australia were ruled out of the remaining tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh.
Finch initially suffered an injury to his right knee during practice ahead of the T20I series against West Indies and aggravated it in the final match in St Lucia. He was later ruled out of the start of the ODI series and it was decided on Saturday that he would now return to Australia instead of staying in Bangladesh.
Finch said, 'I am very disappointed to go home. "It was considered the best course of action, rather than traveling to Bangladesh, not being able to play and losing that recovery time. I would have surgery if needed and the recovery process would start before the World Cup. "
A statement from Cricket Australia said: "The selectors and Cricket Australia's medical team are optimistic that Finch will recover in time for the ICC T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, which begins in mid-October."
Finch will undergo a two-week quarantine upon his return to Australia, which will take him to the second week of August and give him nearly two months to be fit for the World Cup, although it is yet to be confirmed when the team will leave . United Arab Emirates.
Alex Carey will remain on as ODI captain for the series decider against West Indies on Monday, with selectors deciding who will lead the T20I squad in Bangladesh closer to the start of those matches on August 3.
Due to travel arrangements and the complexities of the biosecure bubble, Australia will not call for Finch's replacement. They have two reserve players on the tour, but pacer Nathan Ellis and legspinner Tanveer Sangha provide only bowling cover.
When Finch missed a T20I against India last season, Matthew Wade led the side. Carey is not a surefire start in the T20I side, on the contrary he has a one-day set-up. Other options may include the in-form Mitchell Marsh or the experienced Moises Henriques.
Finch's injury in the short term left Australia without another senior player on a journey where they are already missing David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis from the first-choice batting line-up.
This would probably mean another opportunity to open for Josh Phillippe, who was used in the middle order at the start of the West Indies series, before going back on top, the position he held for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL in the final game. In the series, however, he made a duck.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, while there is optimism that Finch will be fit, it leaves open the possibility of Pat Cummins, official vice-captain in all formats, leading Australia in the tournament.