Finch weighs in on Aussie Test opener debate

Australian one-day captain Aaron Finch has urged selectors to get Victorian batsman Will Pucovski into the Test side sooner rather than later.

Pucovski, 22, is competing with Joe Burns for a spot at the top of the batting order for the first Test against India next month.

Coach Justin Langer has indicated Burns, as the incumbent, has the inside running despite his mediocre form.

The 31-year-old has a Test average of 38, solid if unspectacular, and has made just 57 runs in five Sheffield Shield innings this summer.

By contrast, Pucovski became the first player in more than twenty years to make consecutive Shield double centuries.

Finch, who made his own Test debut just before his 32nd birthday, says Pucovski should be given his chance while he's young.

"When you have your first chance at 32 and you miss that trick, there's probably not a huge amount of scope to get back into that side," Finch said.

"So I would've loved to have that opportunity at 25 because I think the lessons that I learned from that were crucial in my development – not just as a player but as a person [too].

Both Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor have told Wide World of Sports that Pucovski should be given his chance in Adelaide, with both nominating Burns as the player to make way.

"I think when you're talking about young guys – especially hugely talented guys like Will – there's going to be ups and downs in their careers no doubt," Finch said.

"So I think being exposed to the highest level early on, I think that might seem tough at the time if things don't go well straightaway. But the lessons that you learn from that, the way that you approach the game – the way you approach it mentally probably more than anything – I think is some really valuable lessons, and something that can't really be taught.

"You can speak to everybody about how to go about it [and] how you're going to feel, but until you walk out and mark centre or bowl your first ball [or] first over in Test cricket, you don't really understand what your reaction to it is going to be."