Aaron Finch retires from international cricket

Martin Pegan

Aaron Finch has called time on his stunning international career that included leading Australia to their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy.

The long-term white-ball skipper represented Australia in 254 international matches across all formats, playing five Tests, 146 ODIs and 103 T20Is.

Finch led Australia in a world record 76 men’s T20Is, as well as in 55 ODIs, before announcing his retirement.

“Realising that I won’t be playing on 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,” Finch told reporters at the MCG.

“I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.”

Since making his international debut in a T20I against England in January 2011, Finch amassed 8,804 runs which includes 17 ODI centuries and two T20I tons.

Finch retired from ODIs in September last year but continued to lead Australia in T20s including in their unsuccessful T20 World Cup defence on home soil.

The right-hander’s last international match came in that tournament when he top-scored with 63 as Australia beat Ireland by 42 runs but failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Finch was a star of white-ball cricket across much of his time at the top level and was nominated for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade award in 2020.

He holds the record for the highest score in a T20I when blasting 172 runs from just 76 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2018, an incredible knock that included 10 sixes and 16 fours.

That innings broke Finch’s own record for the highest T20I score – which is still the third highest ever in men’s T20Is – after he smashed 156 from 63 balls against England in Southampton in 2013.

The 36-year-old tasted the ultimate success as part of the Australia team that won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 and when captain of the T20 World Cup squad in 2021.

“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,” Finch said.

“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 honour.”