Finch urges players to grab WC spots on WI, Bangladesh tours

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Australia captain Aaron Finch has said the upcoming tours of West Indies and Bangladesh will give the newcomers a chance to stake their claim for selection at the T20 World Cup in October-November.

Australia will head to the West Indies with an 18-man squad missing several key players, including David Warner, Pat Cummins, and Glenn Maxwell, who have all opted out for various reasons. Meanwhile, Steve Smith will miss the game due to an elbow injury.

"It'll give the guys on this tour an opportunity to almost take their [World Cup] spots, I guess. I think the great thing about Australian cricket at the moment is that the guys that are performing really well in BBL and domestic cricket, are the ones that are getting the opportunities," Finch said

Earlier this month, Australia made six new additions to the 23-man preliminary squad for the West Indies tour, including a new face in fast bowler Wes Agar.

"Playing cricket for Australia and doing well is the ultimate, in my opinion. So for guys to be on this tour to get the first opportunity to put their hand up and take that spot is what it's about. It's tough to ignore really good international performances,"

According to Finch, the conditions in Bangladesh and the West Indies are similar to those in India and the United Arab Emirates, which will help in their preparation for the World Cup.

"You have to go on current form. These conditions will be very similar to what we face in the T20 World Cup I imagine - especially St Lucia being used quite a lot and then Bangladesh being quite similar to India or UAE, wherever that lands," he added.

Australia will lock horns with West Indies for five T20Is and three ODIs, starting on July 9. Following that they will set to play five T20Is against Bangladesh in early August.