Aaron Finch, who led Australia to their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2021, announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
Finch, Australian Men’s T20 Captain, announced his retirement from all international cricket, 12 years after making his debut.
He had already retired from One-Day Internationals in September, last year after featuring in 146 matches for Australia.
In T20Is, Finch player 103 matches, averaging 34.28 with a strike rate of 142.5 beside playing five Test matches in 2018.
“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.”
He led Australia in 76 T20Is, which is more than any other men’s player, leading the team to a maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2021.
Finch meanwhile, also closes his career as a two-time World Cup winner having been a part of the squad that claimed the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup title on home soil in 2015, cricket Australia informed in a release on Tuesday.
Speaking at the MCG to announce his retirement, Aaron Finch said: “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 termed the World Cup triumphs as the most memorable moments of his 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 honour,” he added.
Cricket Australia Chair, Dr Lachlan Henderson said: “On behalf of Cricket Australia, I’d like to congratulate Aaron on an exceptional international career, where he finishes as one of our finest white-ball players. In full flight, there were few batters more powerful than Aaron, illustrated by the fact he holds two of the three highest-ever scores in T20 International cricket.
“While he was a tough competitor on the field, Aaron always played the game with a smile on his face and in the right spirit. This earned him the respect of his teammates, opposition players and fans from around the world,” he was quoted as saying in the release.
“As one of only four men’s players to captain Australia to a World Cup victory, Aaron will always have a special place in Australian Cricket’s history.
“Playing at the highest level for over a decade requires incredible determination and dedication, so we thank Aaron for his enormous contribution and wish him all the best in the next phase of his career,” Henderson said.
Finch will continue to play in T20 domestic competitions, including the KFC Big Bash League.