Australia needs a huge victory, and Ponting indicated that if Finch recovers, his Monday 63 at the Gabba was sufficient for the tenacious skipper to keep his place.
However, playing batter heavy may be necessary if the reigning champion is to increase its net run rate and move above of England into second position in Group 1.
Cummins may need to make way so that Cameron Green may be freed because he has already drawn some criticism for his performance at this World Cup.
Ricky Ponting stated at the MCG on Thursday that “if they are thinking about a fast going out,” which would be a difficult choice for the selectors, “then maybe it is Cummins that goes out and Green comes in.”
“If they are thinking about a quick going out and this is obviously going to be a tough decision for the selectors, but if they are thinking about that then maybe it is Cummins that goes out and Green comes in.
“Whichever way they go they’re going to have to take a real risk and [throw] caution to the wind and try and win that game as quickly and as comfortably as they can.
“If they lose trying to win it well then that’s the way it is.”
Ponting elevated Josh Hazlewood ahead of both Cummins, whose economy rate at the World Cup is over nine runs an over, and fellow quick Mitchell Starc in the pecking order, but Starc’s blitzkrieg against Ireland, bowling first change, showed his worth to the team.
“I think it‘s been a really good ploy for Starc to not open the bowling, his record in the last 12 or 18 months with the new ball is less than flattering,” Ponting said.
“What they‘ve done with using him outside the first couple of overs and through the middle has actually worked a treat.”