Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Aaron Finch retires from ODIs: “Time to give new leader a chance” | Aaron Finch retires from ODI cricket, will continue as T20I captain

Australia captain Aaron Finch has announced his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs). Announcing the news on Saturday morning, Finch said it was the right time to step aside and give a new captain a chance to settle in ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The veteran of 145 ODIs has enjoyed a fine career in the format, but has endured a very difficult period. In five ODIs this season against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, Finch made a total of 26 runs, further increasing the spotlight on his role in the team. In the end, he made the call.

“It has been a fantastic ride with some incredible memories,” Finch said. “I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of some brilliant one-day sides. Equally, I have been blessed by all those I have played with and the many people behind the scenes.

“It is time now to give a new leader the best possible opportunity to prepare for and win the next World Cup. I thank all of those who have helped and supported my journey to this point,” he said.

Finch retires from ODIs: “Never my style to be self-indulgent”

Finch revealed that he contemplated finishing his ODI career against England after the T20 World Cup. The third match of that series is scheduled at the MCG, Finch’s home ground, which could have made for a fairytale finish. However, the opener said that it is not his style to think of himself only, but rather allow his replacements enough time to make an impact in the format.

“I could have tried to play the series against England, and that would have been a bit of a fairytale finishing at the MCG, but I think that’s never been my style to be self-indulgent in any way,” he said.

“So it’s important that whoever takes over the captaincy, and whoever opens the batting, is given the best opportunity to take take the team forward and win the World Cup in 2023. I’m very comfortable and confident I would never have made it that far, just with my body as well as a bit of form.”

Finch will continue as T20I captain

Australia will begin their T20 World Cup defence next month against New Zealand. Finch will be leading in that tournament, and will be keen to make runs in T20Is against India, England and West Indies before the showpiece event.

The opener has been in better T20 form this year, with scores of 55, 61*, 24 and 29 in his past four matches. In trying to explain why there has been such a difference in his returns in the two white-ball formats, Finch said that intent is likely to be the difference.

“I think my T20 form has been pretty good for a little while now, [it’s a] totally different format, but I’m really comfortable that I’m still playing well, just haven’t got as many runs in this format,” he said. “Don’t know what the difference is, maybe a bit of intent, a bit of risk-taking that you get away with in T20 cricket.”

Finch has committed to the Melbourne Renegades for this season’s Big Bash League, and will assess his career after that tournament. For now, he will play his 146th and final ODI against New Zealand on Sunday that brings an end to a career that has yielded 5,401 runs and 17 hundreds. Only Ricky Ponting (29), David Warner (18) and Mark Waugh (18) have scored more ODI centuries for Australia.