Aaron Finch, one of Australia’s most decorated white-ball batters, has confirmed his retirement from international cricket following a glistening 12-year career that included two World Cup triumphs.
The former national captain, who will continue representing the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, played 249 white-ball matches for Australia, plundering 8526 runs and 19 centuries.
No cricketer in history has scored more T20I runs at a higher strike rate (142.53) than the powerful right-hander from Colac.
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Finch made his international debut in January 2011, notching 15 (14) not out in the middle-order in a thrilling one-wicket loss to England at Adelaide Oval. The Victorian would jump in and out of Australia’s T20 side over the following 24 months until his career-defining 156 (63) against England at Southampton, shattering the previous world record by 33 runs.
Not only had Finch rewritten the history books, but he gave Australian cricket fans something to celebrate following a bleak winter campaign that included a 4-0 whitewash in India and a horror 2013 Ashes campaign in England.
He was named Australia T20I captain the following year, replacing George Bailey.
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES IN MEN’S T20IS
172 — Aaron Finch (AUS) vs ZIM, 2018
162* — Hazratullah Zazai (AFG) vs IRE, 2019
156 — Aaron Finch (AUS) vs ENG, 2013
145* — Glenn Maxwell (AUS) vs SL, 2016
137 — Zeeshan Kukikhel (HUN) vs AUT, 2022
Finch became a stalwart in one-day colours. He won a World Cup on home soil in 2015 before toppling his own T20I career-best in 2018, smacking 172 (76) against Zimbabwe in Harare — a record yet to be beaten.
He briefly boasted the two highest individual scores in T20I history.
Unlike many of today’s short-format superstars, Finch does not possess an array of extravagant shots to fall back on, relying instead on his hand-eye coordination and raw power. The quintessential Finch shot will forever be him planting the front foot and heaving a lofted drive over cow corner before casually walking down at the pitch and adjusting his helmet.
A respected leader within the cricket community, Finch captained Australia in 76 T20I matches — which remains a world record — including 40 victories, making him one of the sport’s most successful short-format captains. He is also the only Australian captain to win a Men’s T20 World Cup, achieving the feat in the United Arab Emirates in 2021.
MOST MEN’S T20I WINS AS CAPTAIN
42 — Asghar Afghan (AFG)
42 — Eoin Morgan (ENG)
41 — MS Dhoni (IND)
40 — Babar Azam (PAK)
40 — Aaron Finch (AUS)
After an underwhelming home T20 World Cup campaign in 2022 and a string of low scores in canary yellow, he announced his retirement from international cricket in front of a handful of reporters at an empty MCG on Tuesday morning.
It comes a few months after wrapping up his ODI career by registering scores of 5, 0 and 5 against New Zealand in front of modest crowds in Cairns. His last contribution to the Australian cricket team was running drinks at Adelaide Oval while nursing a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup. An unremarkable end to a remarkable career.
Finch’s stint in the Test team was brief and forgettable. After losing both of its opening batters following the Cape Town sandpaper scandal of 2018, Australian selectors rushed Finch into the squad to plug the hole.
Despite predominantly serving as a middle-order batter for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, Finch was tasked with opening the batting in Australian whites, dropped fives Tests later after struggling against the swinging Kookaburra.
Finch could have been an exceptional No. 5 in the Test side if handed the opportunity.
Australia is not scheduled to play another T20 until September, giving Cricket Australia ample time to find a new captain ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States.
Matt Short and Steve Smith are among the leading candidates to replace Finch at the top of the order.
MOST MEN’S T20I RUNS FOR AUSTRALIA
3120 — Aaron Finch
2894 — David Warner
2159 — Glenn Maxwell
1462 — Shane Watson
1086 — Mitchell Marsh
