Union right to defend White: Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch, who sits on the Australian Cricketers' Association executive, says the organisation was right to get on "the front foot" regarding a stoush involving chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.

ACA chief Alistair Nicholson accused Hohns of being "disrespectful" and playing the "man not the ball" on Thursday morning.

A day earlier, Hohns labelled Cameron White's international career as nothing "earth shattering" and suggested the Victorian veteran had a short memory.

The tit-for-tat started on Tuesday, when White criticised Hohns' panel by saying that the national side at times resembled a development team.

Finch, speaking as stand-in skipper after Australia's ODI against New Zealand was washed out in Napier, was reluctant to enter the debate.

But the opener had no issue with the players' union voicing their concern about what Hohns had to say.

"I thought the ACA (were) getting on the front foot - absolutely supporting their players, like they should," Finch said.

"That's obviously an issue between Trevor and Cam that I'm sure they'll resolve in time.

"Yeah (he was surprised by some of the comments in recent days) a little bit. You never really expect players or selectors to have a crack.

"But it's part and parcel - people are entitled to their own opinion."

Former Test players Ed Cowan and Trent Copeland also backed the ACA on Twitter.

Finch's words come after Nicholson suggested there was a growing sense amongst players that any public comment would be met with a "disproportionate response" by Cricket Australia.

"Cameron is entitled to express his views, and Trevor Hohns and others from CA are entitled to disagree," Nicholson said.

"But to reduce the discussion to a negative critique of Cameron White's career is playing the man, not the ball.

"Cameron continues to give his heart and soul to the game, his state and has been recognised as a captain of his country. He deserves better."

The relationship between the players' union and CA reached a low ebb in December after the governing body postponed pay talks.

The two parties are negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding, with the major point of issue being CA's desire to stop the percentage-of-revenue pay model that has existed since the ACA was formed 20 years ago.