Australia’s longest-serving T20I skipper, Aaron Finch has decided to hang his boots from international cricket on Tuesday. Finch, who retired as the One Day International (ODI) captain of the Australian team in 2022, has confirmed his retirement from T20Is. Finch guided Australia to its maiden ICC World T20 title in 2021.
Australia’s most successful captain in the history of T20Is, Aaron Finch will continue to play for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL). Finch’s position in the Australian squad has often been criticized in recent times after the Men from Down failed to defend its T20 World Cup crown at home in 2022. Hosts Australia failed to make the knockout stage of the T20 World Cup last year.
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Announcing his retirement, as quoted by 7cricket, Aaron Finch said, “Realising that I won’t be playing on until the next T20 World Cup in 2024, now is the right moment step down and give the team time to plan and build towards that event. I’d like to thank my family, especially my wife Amy, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support to allow me to play the game I love at the highest level.”
Aaron Finch calls time on a storied international career 👏 pic.twitter.com/V0tiAH12up
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 6, 2023
Aaron Finch believes there are no shortage of options as Australia look to replace him as their captain and opener. pic.twitter.com/tPHAceAw6h
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 7, 2023
One of the finest batters in T20I cricket, Aaron Finch made his international debut in 2011 against England. In his glittering international career, he amassed as many as 8804 runs. The veteran batter also smashed 17 ODI centuries and two T20I tons for Australia. In his last international match for Australia, Finch top-scored with a brilliant 63-run knock as the Men from Down Under defeated Ireland by 42 runs.
Explaining it further Aaron Finch said, “I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career. Team success is what you play the game for and the maiden 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. To be able to represent Australia for 12 years and play with and against some of the greatest players of all time has been an incredible honor.”
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The veteran batter holds the record for the highest individual score in T20Is when he amassed 172 runs in just 76 balls against Zimbabwe in 2018 to register the highest score in a T20I. Finch had shattered his own record for the highest T20I score at the time. Finch also holds the record for the third-highest score in T20Is. He had played a stunning knock of 156 from 63 balls against England in Southampton to achieve the special feat in 2013. The 36-year-old played five Tests, 146 ODIs, and 103 T20Is for Australia.
