• Aaron Finch says he is still a “pretty good” player despite his poor run with the bat.
• Australia’s limited-overs captain is under increased pressure as T20 World Cup approaches.
• Three one-day internationals against New Zealand starting Tuesday in Cairns, Queensland.

Under pressure Aaron Finch argued Monday that despite a poor run with the bat, he was still “a pretty good” player, as Australia’s limited overs captain looks to regain form against New Zealand this week.

The 35-year-old opener scored 15 runs in Australia’s 2-1 ODI series triumph over Zimbabwe last week, after two successive ducks in the final two games of their previous series in Sri Lanka.

His situation is under increased criticism as the T20 World Cup on home soil in October approaches.

Finch has three matches against the world’s top ODI team starting Tuesday in Cairns, Queensland, to stop the rot and silence the doubters.

“You’re always looking to improve and being able to train consistently and keep tinkering with my game to get better is the most important thing, it is what you are always striving to do,” he told reporters.

“Obviously, personally, the performances haven’t been there in terms of the output of runs but I still feel like I’m a pretty good player.

“I’m feeling really good… I had a good long hit in the nets, probably longer than I normally have the day before a game. Obviously not having as much time in the middle lately lends itself to more training unfortunately.”

The home team enters the series after being humiliated by Zimbabwe in Townsville on Saturday, losing by three wickets to give the world’s 13th-ranked side a historic maiden win against Australia’s cricketing powerhouse.

New Zealand, headed by Kane Williamson, will present an even more difficult challenge.

“They continue to be one of the benchmarks in world cricket in all three formats of the game,” Finch said of the Black Caps.

“They are always close battles whatever the format… they go the distance generally.”

Coach Andrew McDonald has indicated he could tinker with the line-up.

“You’ll see the balance of our team start to shift from game to game at times, just making sure that we’re covering all the bases,” he said.

New Zealand are in Cairns on the back of a 2-1 ODI series win in the West Indies last month, with Williamson anticipating “a really tough challenge”.

“They’re very clinical, certainly in their own backyard,” he said.

“So for us as a team, it’s great to be over here and playing in another Chappell-Hadlee (series).

“It’s three one-dayers and pretty quick time, but for us as a white-ball unit, there’s a lot to gain from this.”

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