Finch captained Australia in the recently concluded T20 World Cup after retiring from ODIs.
Aaron Finch, one of Australia’s most experienced players, announced his retirement from T20 Internationals on February 7, Tuesday, bringing his 12-year international career to an end. Finch announced his retirement from one-day internationals in September 2022 last year, but he continued to captain his team in the shorter format.
Finch retires from Twenty20 cricket after 103 appearances for Australia, 76 of which he captained the team. He retires as Australia’s leading run scorer in the format, with 3120 runs scored at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 142.5. His career-high 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018 is the highest individual score in the format. He previously set the record with 156 run against England in 2013. He also played in five Test matches for Australia.
Finch’s decision to retire from the 50-over format last year cast doubt on his T20I career, with many believing he will hang up his boots after the T20 World Cup on home soil in 2022. He did, however, postpone his decision until the end of Australia’s premier domestic competition, the Big Bash League, in which he played for the Melbourne Renegades.
“Realising that I won’t be playing until the next T20 World Cup in 2024, now is the right moment to step down and give the team time to plan and build towards that event. I’d like to thank my family, particularly my wife Amy, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for allowing me to play the game I love at the highest level.
“I’d also like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my international career. You play the game for successful teamwork, and the first T20 World Cup win in 2021 and lifting the ODI World Cup on home soil in 2015 will be the two memories I cherish the most. It has been an incredible honour to be able to represent Australia for 12 years and play with and against some of the greatest players of all time “Finch stated in a formal statement.
While Finch calls it quits after an illustrious T20I career, the Australian team is faced with the task of appointing a new captain for the game’s shortest format. Pat Cummins is the favourite for the job, but the mercurial pacer is unlikely to captain the team in all three formats.
