Aaron Finch: No decision on Australia future until after BBL

The T20I captain is in no rush to make a decision over his international career after the holders exited their home T20 World Cup in the Super 12s

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Australia T20I captain Aaron Finch will make a decision over his international future after the Big Bash League.

A period of transition beckons after the holders were knocked out of their home T20 World Cup in the Super 12s.

But with no T20I scheduled until the team go to South Africa in August and September 2023, there remains plenty of time to consider what the future looks like.

Finch, who retired from ODI cricket in September, managed 107 runs across his three innings but his campaign ended on the sidelines due to another hamstring problem.

Attention now turns to the Big Bash League - Finch's Melbourne Renegades start their campaign against Brisbane Heat on December 15 - after which the 35-year-old will take a call on his future.

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It was another up-and-down campaign with the bat for Finch (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

"No, I'm not going to retire. Not just yet," Finch told reporters upon arriving in Melbourne on Sunday (November 6).

"I'll play Big Bash and see where we sit after that, but I’m still enjoying playing cricket, playing T20.

"There's not another international T20 until August, so there's quite a long break. Still, plenty of time to be able to weigh all that up.

"It's been a pretty good ride regardless of what happens."

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Attention now turns to the BBL, starting in December (Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)

Alongside the hamstring issue that ruled him out of the final Super 12s game against Afghanistan, it was another below-par campaign with the bat for Finch.

Though finishing with an average of 53.50, his tournament strike rate of 110.30 compares unfavourably with teammates Marcus Stoinis (161), Glenn Maxwell (161), Mitchell Marsh (130) and Tim David (144). His tournament included an awkward 31 not out from 42 balls against Sri Lanka, which Finch himself labelled as "poor".

Finch will be 37 when the next T20 World Cup rolls around in 2024 in the United States and West Indies.

Head coach Andrew McDonald would not be drawn fully on Finch's next move but believes the BBL will be a key indicator of his form and fitness.

"Haven't really put much thought or time on that," McDonald said.

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Andrew McDonald is unsure what the future holds (PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)

"It's a little bit raw on the back of the World Cup but he's got some time to think about that.

"The Big Bash will probably determine his future, how he goes there, his performances, how his body is holding up. 

"His body's failed him here in terms of his hamstring strain that put him out of the World Cup.

"The next game's not until August next year so that gives him a lot of time to repair if he's willing to go on, if not I'm sure over the next couple of weeks he'll have a think about that and call it."


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