Being in and out of the side on a consistent basis can do two things to a cricketer's career. It can either bring out the best in him or demotivate him to an extent where he calls it a quit. Success is for those men who learn from their mistakes. Australian cricket's new star Aaron Finch is one such person and this Thursday, 29th August, Aaron proved it with his batting.
In 2009-2010, when Victoria's Aaron Finch scored his maiden first class century of 102, in a record 212 run partnership for the 3rd wicket with David Hussey against Tasmania, he gave Australian cricket board a player worthy of test cricket. His 154 runs against Queensland in 2012, was an exhibition of his inborn power-hitting capability. Australian cricket by then had realized that they had their kitty in the bag. Finch's aggression combined with orthodox batting style could be used at top of the order for quick runs on the board. His composure throughout his innings were evidence of a great finisher in making. But three years of inconsistency after donning the baggy green kept him out of the limelight. It was only a matter of time that the world would witness this immensely talented young Australian lad make the news for all good reasons.
An innings studded by 14 hits over the ropes and 11 fours down the green carpet made Finch reach his hundred in only 47 balls, the second fastest hundred in T20 international. Richard Levi holds the record for the fastest century in T20 internationals that came of 45 balls. There was hardly a time where Finch looked uncomfortable against the pace and the spin attack that England had to offer. His innings looked eternal. Facing 63 balls in a 120 balls a side game is a feat in itself, worth applauding.
Finch viciously attacked the English bowlers as he disfigured their bowling strike rates to more than 200, except for Jade Dernbach. 3 of the gigantic hits into the stand completed his 50, 100 and 150 respectively. The Aussie, after completing his hundred roared to another 56 in just 15 balls, as he was dismissed by Dernbach on the 63rd ball of his innings. Finch also excelled the previous record of 123, scored by Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh to become the top scorer in an innings in the twenty-twenty international format.
At any point of time, Finch innings comprised of all good cricketing shots. Not even for a single shot his batting could be explained as slogging. Finch electrified the Aussie camp and the fans from the kangaroo land with his powerful hitting. Any ball shot of length would be sent into the crowd and full length deliveries met his straight bat with an Oomph.
IPL franchise Pune Warriors India would be now bragging about Finchy who, replaced his senior teammate Michael Clarke as incharge of the reigns, mid way through the 2013 season. Finch managed to finish among the top 15 run-getters of the season. Surely, they must have foreseen the genre of Next Big Thing in the smaller version of the game. A well composed man from outside showed immense control on his furious emotions that would have been sprinting inside him after his valiant efforts that left Rose-bowl stadium and the whole cricket world awestruck. Team England included.
With great performances comes greater hopes and much bigger responsibilities. Given the fact that Finch is new at the highest level of cricket and his stalwart performance has become the talk-of-the-town, Finch has crafted his own niche to live up to. A reputation that he wouldn't want people to assume as a fluke. The innings might surely cement his spot in the squad for the ongoing series, but, it is the consistency in his performances that would make him a regular member of the Aussie squad.
I salute this majestic innings of Aaron Finch as I await the day when Finch becomes a majestic figure in the Australian squad.
In 2009-2010, when Victoria's Aaron Finch scored his maiden first class century of 102, in a record 212 run partnership for the 3rd wicket with David Hussey against Tasmania, he gave Australian cricket board a player worthy of test cricket. His 154 runs against Queensland in 2012, was an exhibition of his inborn power-hitting capability. Australian cricket by then had realized that they had their kitty in the bag. Finch's aggression combined with orthodox batting style could be used at top of the order for quick runs on the board. His composure throughout his innings were evidence of a great finisher in making. But three years of inconsistency after donning the baggy green kept him out of the limelight. It was only a matter of time that the world would witness this immensely talented young Australian lad make the news for all good reasons.
On 29th August, at Rose-bowl, against England, amidst a jam-packed stadium, Aaron Finch finally announced his arrival with a masterclass display of power-hitting to score 156, of just 63 balls. Finch stepped over the records to climb to the top of the ladder as he completed second fastest T20 international hundred. He left the entire Southampton along with the cricketing world drooling...
Finch viciously attacked the English bowlers as he disfigured their bowling strike rates to more than 200, except for Jade Dernbach. 3 of the gigantic hits into the stand completed his 50, 100 and 150 respectively. The Aussie, after completing his hundred roared to another 56 in just 15 balls, as he was dismissed by Dernbach on the 63rd ball of his innings. Finch also excelled the previous record of 123, scored by Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh to become the top scorer in an innings in the twenty-twenty international format.
At any point of time, Finch innings comprised of all good cricketing shots. Not even for a single shot his batting could be explained as slogging. Finch electrified the Aussie camp and the fans from the kangaroo land with his powerful hitting. Any ball shot of length would be sent into the crowd and full length deliveries met his straight bat with an Oomph.
IPL franchise Pune Warriors India would be now bragging about Finchy who, replaced his senior teammate Michael Clarke as incharge of the reigns, mid way through the 2013 season. Finch managed to finish among the top 15 run-getters of the season. Surely, they must have foreseen the genre of Next Big Thing in the smaller version of the game. A well composed man from outside showed immense control on his furious emotions that would have been sprinting inside him after his valiant efforts that left Rose-bowl stadium and the whole cricket world awestruck. Team England included.
With great performances comes greater hopes and much bigger responsibilities. Given the fact that Finch is new at the highest level of cricket and his stalwart performance has become the talk-of-the-town, Finch has crafted his own niche to live up to. A reputation that he wouldn't want people to assume as a fluke. The innings might surely cement his spot in the squad for the ongoing series, but, it is the consistency in his performances that would make him a regular member of the Aussie squad.
I salute this majestic innings of Aaron Finch as I await the day when Finch becomes a majestic figure in the Australian squad.
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