Aaron Finch, who captained Australia to their first ICC Men's T20 World Cup title in 2021, announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
Finch, the Australian Men's T20 captain, announced his retirement from all international cricket 12 years after his debut.
After retiring from One-Day Internationals in September 2022 after 146 appearances, Finch has now decided to retire from T20 Internationals after 103 appearances, where he averaged 34.28 with a strike rate of 142.5. In 2018, he also played five Tests.
"Because I won't be playing until the next T20 World Cup in 2024, now is the right time to step down and give the team time to plan and build for that event," Finch told reporters at the MCG. "I'd also like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my international career."
Finch, 36, made his U19 World Cup debut in 2006, alongside current internationals Usman Khawaja, Matthew Wade, and David Warner.
Finch, known for his power at the top of the order, holds the record for the highest individual score in T20 Internationals with 172 off 76 balls against Zimbabwe in 2018. This innings broke his previous record of 156 off 63 balls against England in 2013.
Finch captained Australia in 76 T20 Internationals, the most of any men's player, and led the team to their first ICC Men's T20 World Cup title in 2021. He ends his career as a two-time World Cup winner, having been a member of the squad that won the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2015. Cricket Australia announced the news in a press release on Tuesday.
Finch finished the most recent T20 World Cup with a player-of-the-match performance against Ireland in what turned out to be his final match in the green and gold.
Finch will continue to compete in domestic T20 leagues, including the KFC Big Bash League.
"Realizing that I won't be playing on until the next T20 World Cup in 2024, now is the right time to step down and give the team time to plan and build towards that event," Aaron Finch said at the MCG to announce his retirement.
Finch described his World Cup victories 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.
"It's been an incredible honour to be able to represent Australia for 12 years and play with and against some of the greatest players of all time," he added.
"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," said Dr Lachlan Henderson. Few batters were more powerful than Aaron in full flight, as evidenced by the fact that he holds two of the three highest-ever T20 International scores.
"Although he was a tough competitor on the field, Aaron always played with a smile on his face and in the right spirit. This earned him the respect of his teammates, opponents, and fans worldwide," 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 more than a decade requires incredible determination and dedication," Henderson said.
Finch has played in the Big Bash League for Victoria (2007/08 to present) and Melbourne Renegades (2011/12 to present).
Since being selected by the Rajasthan Royals in the 2010 auction, he has been a big star in franchise T20 cricket and has played for various teams in the Indian Premier League. In the IPL, he played for the Delhi Daredevils (2011-12), the Pune Warriors India (2013), the Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014), the Mumbai Indians (2015), the Gujarat Lions (2016-17), the Kings XI Punjab (2018), the Royal Challengers Bangalore (2020), and the Kolkata Knight Riders (2022).
He also played for Yorkshire (2014-15) and Surrey (2016-19) in England, Auckland Aces (2012-13) in New Zealand, and Ruhuna Royals in the Sri Lanka Premier League (2012), totaling 11,382 runs in 381 T20 matches with eight centuries and 77 fifties.