Australia’s Aaron Finch retires from international cricket

Melbourne: Australia’s most successful T20 International batter and captain Aaron Finch, who led the country to its maiden shortest format World Cup triumph in 2021, announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday. The 36-year-old will, however, continue to play for the Renegades in the Big Bash League and would consider domestic T20 opportunities in other countries.
“Our World Cup winning, longest serving men’s T20I captain has called time on a remarkable career. Thanks for everything @AaronFinch5,” Cricket Australia (CA) said on its official Twitter handle.
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. 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