Mark Waugh says David Warner and Aaron Finch can dominate international limited overs cricket from the top of the order in the same way he and Adam Gilchrist did.
The Waugh-Gilchrist opening partnership ruled One Day International cricket in the late 1990s and early this century.
In 96 matches opening the innings together, the duo scored 3959 runs including eight centuries with a high of 206 against the West Indies at the Gabba in January 2001.
And Waugh believes the Warner-Finch combination has the potential to be another great partnership.
“They are both outstanding players, their careers have only just started but they have the potential,” Waugh said.
“We all know what David Warner is like in all forms of cricket and he can only get better, and Aaron Finch is just establishing himself but we know what he can do in T20 cricket.”
Waugh said Warner and Finch are at the sharp end of a very potent Australian batting line-up that has every chance to claim World Cup success next year when the tournament comes to Australia and New Zealand in February and March.
“I think it is a very strong one day side overall. I would imagine they would probably start favourites for the World Cup next year in Australia,” Waugh said after being announced as the latest inductee into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame on Sunday.
“They have an excellent side with Finch and Warner up the top. We have so much depth there too. We have a lot of fine one day batsmen but those two guys could dominate world cricket if they get their heads down and don’t get too far ahead of themselves.
“It’s easy to get carried away. They have the potential, put it that way, they just have to do it. Time will tell …”