Lehmann backs Finch for Test call-up
Despite boasting a larger reputation in white-ball cricket, the opener has played 75 first-class games and has amassed 4,263 runs at 36.12.
Whilst his four-day average is arguably under-par, Lehmann believes the 31-year-old has the game to perform in spin-friendly subcontinent pitches and has conceded that Finch was under consideration when he was in-charge of the national side.
"He can play Test cricket, there's no doubt about that," Lehmann told the Geelong Advertiser. "He's confident in the way he plays spin bowling, he can take an attack on, and leading into this Pakistan series he's a really good chance to be selected for that one. He was always knocking on the door, but he just hadn't made runs consistently."
There are gaps to fill in Australia’s Test team; David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft are all serving suspensions after their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa earlier this year. Furthermore, as the new-ball bowlers are unlikely to impart sizeable side-ways movement in the UAE, Lehmann believes that selecting Finch as opener would be a gamble worth taking.
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"If you're playing in the subcontinent where the wickets don't seam that much, I'd open with him,” he said. “But if you're playing in Australia, I'd bat him down the list. That's the challenge Justin (Langer) and the selection panel have. But they've got to pick him first and work out where he bats."
Lehmann has been buoyed by Finch’s solid form in the Sheffield Shield over the last three seasons, in which he has amassed 1,278 runs at 41.22 in 19 matches for Victoria.
"If you take a look at his numbers, they're right up there,” added Lehmann. “He probably could've made a few more hundreds and pushed his case even further but he's one player we talked about quite a lot. He's close, and when I was coach, he was close. He's probably closer now.”
Whilst Finch has biffed 4,957 runs in international cricket, the powerful opener is yet to represent his country in a Test match. He currently captains Australia’s T20I outfit and current coach Justin Langer hinted last month that Finch could also be given leadership responsibilities in ODI cricket.