Aaron Finch has announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals, after a 12-year career with Australia. In September of last year, the Australia skipper announced his retirement from ODI cricket.
Finch told media at the MCG on Tuesday, “Realizing that I won’t be playing on until the next T20 WC in 2024, now is the proper opportunity to stand aside and allow the squad time to prepare and develop towards that tournament” (February 7).
Finch retires from Twenty20 cricket following 103 appearances for Australia, where he captained the team in 76 of those games. With 3120 runs scored at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 142.5, he departs as Australia’s top run scorer in the format.The top individual score in the format is his career-best 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018. He previously held the mark with his 156 against England in 2013. He participated in five Test games for Australia as well.
“In order to play the game I adore at the greatest level, I would want to thank my family, especially my wife Amy, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Cricketers’ Association. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to all of my followers for their support during my worldwide career.”
Finch’s final T20I participation for Australia came in the home World Cup group match against Ireland last year. He later missed the team’s championship game against Afghanistan due to injury, after which he claimed he would evaluate his situation during the BBL. He did have a productive season with the Melbourne Renegades, scoring 428 runs at an average of 38.90, but he has now made the decision to call it quits on his international playing career. Australia’s next T20I match isn’t until August, when they’ll be touring South Africa.
Australia won their first T20 WC championship under Finch’s leadership in 2021 when they defeated New Zealand in Dubai.
“Team success is what you play the game for, and my two favourite memories from the game will always be winning the ODI World Cup at home in 2015 and the first T20 World Cup in 2021.
It has been an amazing honour to play with and against some of the greatest players of all time while representing Australia for 12 years.
Nevertheless, Finch affirmed that he would continue to represent the Renegades in the BBL and any other domestic T20 opportunities that came his way.
Aaron will always hold a special position in Australian Cricket’s history as one of just four [five] men’s players to lead Australia to a World Cup win, according to Cricket Australia chair Dr. Lachlan Henderson. We are grateful for Aaron’s huge contribution and wish him the best in his future career since playing at the highest level for more than ten years takes amazing devotion and perseverance.
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