Aaron Finch reveals his future cricket plans

Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Aaron Finch has revealed his future cricket plans. Finch, who captains Australia’s white-ball teams, wants to call it a day in India after playing the 2023 World Cup final.

“My end date at this stage is the World Cup final of the 2023 World Cup in India. That’s my goal and I’m sticking to it,” Finch was quoted as saying by SEN radio network.

“That’s what I had my mindset on a fair while (ago), but I think this period (COVID-19 forced break) has just confirmed it. That’ll see me through to 36 (years old), obviously with form and everything permitting, and injuries.”

The 33-year-old feels that the five-month-long break has rejuvenated him and he hopes to lead Australia in the next three big ICC events - the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, and the ODI World Cup in 2023.

“Having this break, as difficult as it’s been for so many people, for athletes and especially ones that are traveling nonstop and playing for 10 or 11 months of the year, it’s been that mental freshen up that people probably needed but haven’t had the opportunity to do.

“If I thought I was going to be pushing it to get to that date, this break has confirmed that I’ll be ready to go right through to that period,” he added.

Finch-led Australia will resume competitive cricket after a six-month-long hiatus when they start their England tour next month for three T20Is and as many ODIs, starting September 4 at Southampton. Finch was honest to admit that he did not miss the game initially but started missing the game as the wait grew longer.

“The first month or so that we were in lockdown, I didn’t miss playing at all,” he said.

“So originally, that was alarm bells for me; (I thought) does this mean I’m coming to the end, do I retire? And it was like that 32nd day (of no training) ticked over and I was like, ‘right, I’m itching to get back into it’.

“I’m just excited to start playing again. It’s been a long five months and I think for everyone having not had this kind of extended break for some time, I think the novelty of that wore off after the first three months and everyone’s been itching to get back into it since then,” he concluded.