Aaron Finch, the sole captain to lead Australia to victory in a T20 World Cup, has declared his retirement from international cricket on February 7, culminating a career that spanned over 12 years. Having already retired from ODI cricket before the T20 World Cup in 2022, Finch had expressed his intention to reevaluate his future after the conclusion of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2022-23. Shortly following the BBL’s conclusion, Finch revealed that he believes the time is ripe to move on.
Despite his consistent presence in Australia’s white-ball squads for the past decade, Finch often finds himself underrated and underappreciated in the modern cricket landscape. Here are three key reasons why Finch’s contributions have not received the recognition they truly deserve:
- Leadership During Challenging Times and World Cup Victory
Appointed as captain in the wake of the Sandpaper scandal that deeply impacted Australian cricket, Finch took on the pivotal role of leading Australia’s white-ball sides. Amidst questions about the integrity of the game and the team’s reputation, Finch stepped up as a respected figure to rebuild trust and regain the fans’ support. He played a central role in bringing Australia back to prominence. Under Finch’s leadership, Australia clinched their first-ever T20 World Cup title in 2021, breaking a long-standing jinx. Additionally, his captaincy during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup was marked by skillful management, as he orchestrated a team without key players David Warner and Steve Smith and successfully reintegrated them just ahead of the tournament.
- Excellence in Opening the Innings
A majority of Finch’s career was spent opening the innings, a role that demands facing some of the finest bowlers in the game. Despite this challenging position, he consistently demonstrated exceptional performance. With an average of nearly 39 from 146 ODIs and 34.29 in T20Is, Finch exhibited remarkable consistency. He tallied 17 centuries in ODIs, ranking as the fourth highest for an Australian. His partnership with David Warner at the top of the order proved instrumental in Australia’s success in shorter formats.
- Prolific Run-Scorer in T20Is
Notably, Finch concluded his international career as Australia’s leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals, amassing 3120 runs across 103 appearances in the format. His average of 34.29 and a stellar strike rate of 142.53 underscore his effectiveness as a T20 batsman. Finch’s record includes two centuries in T20Is, with one each against England and Zimbabwe. His remarkable knock of 172 runs against Zimbabwe stands as a world record for the highest individual score in T20Is. In this innings, Finch unleashed a relentless assault, smashing 10 sixes and 16 boundaries. He reached his century in a mere 50 deliveries and partnered with fellow opener D’Arcy Short to establish a record-breaking stand.In summary, Aaron Finch’s retirement from international cricket marks the end of a notable career that often went underappreciated. His leadership during turbulent times, excellence in opening the innings, and remarkable run-scoring record in T20 Internationals collectively paint a portrait of a cricketer who made significant contributions to Australian cricket. As he bids farewell to the international stage, Finch’s legacy will stand as a testament to his enduring impact on the game.Follow Six6s for more BBL information.>>https://www.facebook.com/six6scricketlive/