“Throughout the whole thing everyone is going to have their own opinions and regardless of where you sit on the subject I think that it’s important that we remember Pat’s done a really good job as captain over the Ashes,” Finch said.

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“Like Paddy said yesterday, guys are sticking up for their mate and we’re doing the same thing. JL did an amazing job for four years and that ended with a brilliant T20 World Cup win and a brilliant 4-0 Ashes win.

“As a playing group we couldn’t thank him enough and I know personally, the amount of work he’s done for me as a batter, as a person, as a leader has been fantastic.”

The major upheaval around Langer’s coaching came six months ago when, after Cricket Australia failed to act on concerns about his micromanagement style, Finch, Cummins and then Test captain Tim Paine believed there should be a change.

“We sat down in August and talked through all of that about things to improve and gave our feedback,” Finch said.

“That was as much conversation that I’ve really had about it all. Like Pat said yesterday, it’s not our decision to be made but we gave all our feedback along the way and we’ve got to move on from all that now and start with the Australian cricket team hopefully winning this series.”

Friday night will be Australia’s first Twenty20 international since claiming the shortest format’s World Cup for the first time, in the UAE last November.

Two members from that victorious side, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, are resting. Ben McDermott, the leading run scorer in the Big Bash League, will open the batting with Finch while the versatile Josh Inglis will make his debut for Australia batting at number three.

Inglis is also wicketkeeper for Big Bash champions the Perth Scorchers but Matthew Wade will maintain the gloves and continue to bat at number seven, where he played such a pivotal role in the T20 World Cup campaign.

Teams: Australia: Ben McDermott, Aaron Finch (c), Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

Sri Lanka (squad): Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando.

Schedule:

Friday, SCG, 7.10pm

Sunday, SCG, 7.10pm

Tuesday, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm

Friday, Feb 18, MCG, 7.10pm

Sunday, Feb 20, MCG, 7.10pm

TV: Fox Cricket and Kayo.