Aaron Finch ruled out as England target one-day series whitewash

Ruled out: Aaron Finch
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Vithushan Ehantharajah25 January 2018

England’s chances of securing a 5-0 whitewash in the one-day series received a boost after Australia opener and series top scorer Aaron Finch was ruled out of the fourth match with a hamstring injury.

Finch’s absence is a huge blow to the hosts, who are looking to get onto the scoresheet in tomorrow’s Australia Day fixture.

England’s dominance so far — they lead the series 3-0 after their thrilling come-from-behind victory in Sydney last weekend — has led to calls for Australia to adopt the tourists’ attacking game plan ahead of their World Cup defence next year.

Finch (above) has been their sole star, scoring centuries in the first and second ODIs, followed by 62 in the third. However, even with those scores, he hasn’t taken apart England’s bowlers, something which Moeen Ali, who removed Finch in the first ODI, has been pleased with.

“He’s played really well,” said Ali. “But even with him scoring big runs we’ve managed to bowl quite well. He’s not destroyed us or taken the game away from us. We’ve still managed to win convincingly.”

While the dynamic Glenn Maxwell has been called up as cover, Travis Head, who was dropped for the third ODI after failures in the first two, is expected to take the opener’s slot.

Ali is keen not to let the Aussies off the hook and believes a 5-0 whitewash is on the cards — something which has never been done to Australia at home.

Ali added: “It’s a series that means a lot after the Ashes. Everyone is keen to make history here.

“Three-nil up is a great position and everyone is keen to be on the park, to keep playing the way we’re playing.”

Liam Plunkett will miss the rest of the series because of a hamstring injury, with left-armer David Willey expected to take his place in the XI. Chris Woakes is set to play despite nursing various niggles.

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