Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes: Causing problems for MS Dhoni

Zee Media Bureau/Suyash Srivastava

New Delhi: Australia’s in-form opening pair of Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes has got their team to terrific starts in all the three ODIs, a major reason why the visitors are leading 2-1 in the seven-match ODI series. They have ensured that the Kangaroos show enough teeth in a tournament which was predicted to be a one-sided affair after Australia’s regular skipper Michael Clarke was ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. The left-right combination at the top has done wonders for the Aussies, as both the batsmen have so far provided three more than decent starts – 110, 74, 68 – and the rest of the batsmen have capitalised on their hard work. They have cleverly handled the Indian pacers who are struggling to find wickets early in the innings. Finch has been the more aggressive of the two batsmen and he also played a brilliant knock of 89 runs in the lone T20 match played between the two sides. Compared to Finch’s 160 from three matches, Hughes too has made some significant contributions for his side and has accumulated 152 from as many matches. While MS Dhoni would be thinking how to get his pacers going, Australia’s skipper George Bailey and the entire team management would want their openers to continue the good work.