Aaron Finch, one of the T20 format’s stalwarts, bid farewell to professional cricket, concluding a remarkable career that spanned 17 years. Let’s delve into the statistical legacy that Finch leaves behind:
- Aggregate and Rankings:
- Finch ranks among the top ten players to aggregate 10,000-plus runs in T20 cricket.
- His total of 11,458 runs is the seventh-highest overall and the second-highest among Australians, behind David Warner.
- Finch’s eight T20 centuries are surpassed only by Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (10).
- Boundary-Hitting Prowess:
- His 1095 fours in T20s are the fourth-highest for any batter, showcasing his ability to find the boundaries consistently.
- Finch sits among the elite with 452 sixes in T20s, a testament to his aggressive style.
- Consistency as an Opener:
- Most of Finch’s T20 runs came as an opener, amassing 9697 runs in 304 matches, ranking fourth among openers.
- Six Years of T20 Greatness (2012-2018):
- Finch’s peak years in T20s occurred between 2012 and 2018, aggregating 6229 runs in 189 matches.
- His average of 37.75 and strike rate of 147.11 during this period demonstrate his consistency and aggressive approach.
- T20 International Impact:
- In T20 Internationals during the same six-year period, Finch scored 1492 runs in 39 innings, averaging 43.88 with a striking rate of 162.52.
- Finch’s T20I performances included two record-breaking centuries, further solidifying his impact.
- BBL Dominance:
- Finch signed off as the second-most-prolific batter in the history of the Big Bash League (BBL), accumulating 3311 runs for Melbourne Renegades.
- He played in all 13 editions of the league, featuring in 107 matches and maintaining consistency throughout his BBL career.
- T20 Leagues Success:
- Finch excelled beyond the BBL, making significant contributions in the T20 Blast, finishing with 2067 runs across 57 matches.
- He showcased adaptability in the IPL, representing nine franchises in 11 seasons and accumulating 2091 runs.
- Unique Treble Achievement:
- Finch remains the only player to surpass 2000-plus runs in three major T20 leagues (BBL, T20 Blast, and IPL).
- He achieved a unique treble by surpassing 2000-plus runs in two leagues as a foreign player.
- Record-Breaking T20I Scores:
- Finch broke his own record for the highest individual score in T20 Internationals. First, he scored 156 against England in 2013 and then surpassed it with an unbeaten 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018.
- He holds the distinction of breaking his own record for the highest T20I score, a rare feat in international cricket.
Aaron Finch’s T20 legacy extends beyond statistics; he played a pivotal role in shaping the modern approach to T20 cricket, combining power-hitting with consistency at the top of the order.
