Aaron Finch - The Next Big Thing in T20 cricket

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.

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...

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.

English Disgrace to Oval

What do you do to your countrymen who tend to disrupt your history? What should be the fate of such men who tarnish a holy history ? What punishment do they deserve for their shameful act of disobedience? Should they be punished or should they be acquitted for demonstrating a chinchy style of celebration?

If they deserve to be punished, then Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson of England should suffer the same fate for disgracing the cradle of English test cricket. The triumphant English trio peed on the consecrated Kennington Oval as part of their victory celebrations after their team drew the final test to win the series 3-0 in the process retained the Ashes.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Kevin Pietersen

Kennington Oval, also known as Kia Oval due to commercial sponsorship, is of great significance to English as well as the world cricket. Oval is the ground where it all began for England. The first test match on English soil was played at the Oval in September 1880. The first test victory at home for English in its very first test match at the ground makes it even more significant. The ground witnessed a classy century on debut by the legendary W.G Grace. Above all, Kennington Oval is the park where the legend of ASHES was born in 1882.

Having recalled a few facts and the grandness of Kia Oval lets take a snort at the feckless trio. There's no halting the victory celebrations especially, when it is an Ashes victory. We all understand the blood rush in the veins of English cricketers after the exhorting Ashes victory. The exhibition of responsibility by their batsmen and the ascendance of the bowling attack certified their tag as favourites for the tournament. But what followed as part of their merrymaking was an inglorious act of indecency that would make every cricket admirer and every Englishman's head fall in shame . For once it made me feel cricket is no more a gentleman's game. Isn't it?  

As the English team celebrated by drinking beer on the ground, Broad, Kevin & Jimmy Anderson broadened their celebrations as they micturated the pitch for the delight of fellow men as few fans and journalists gazed in disbelief. The irony of  the fact is that none of the English cricketers present there bothered to intervene the scandalous act. Surprisingly, not even Alastair Cook made any attempt. What sort of Captain is Cook if  he doesn't carry respect for the soil that is domicile of English cricket?

The job description for a team's captain is most eminent as he shoulders the responsibility of team's success and conduct on the field. The latter left dangling, warranting me to pity on Captain Cook ! The betise act can only be described as a childish act by mature so called "gentlemen" of the game. The gentleman's game and the profession calls for a little more maturity and decency.

Had the incident taken place in other nations where cricket is much more than just a game ! In India, bollywood celebrity Shahrukh Khan was banned in Wankhede following a spat with a security official at Wankhede. Had the English incident occurred in India, a country where cricket has become more of a religion, it would have immediately ended the cricketer's career. Pakistani players perform "Sajdah" on ground on reaching a milestone. A symbol of thanks giving to God.

Pietersen, Broad and Anderson aren't new to controversies. Last August, Pietersen was in news for sending provocative text messages to South African captain Graeme Smith and his team members.The text contained derogatory comments on South Africans following which, Pietersen was dropped from the squad. Broad made headlines in the recently concluded Ashes as he refused to walk after edging a ball to  the Australian wicket keeper. Darren Lehmann urged the Aussie fans to make sure Broad goes home crying when England next visits Australia. James "Jimmy" Anderson was a part of the ball-change controversy in the champions trophy game against Srilanka, 2013. 

The English players have not only bruised the sentiments of cricket lovers around the world but have also provoked football fans worldwide by showing disrespect to the ground that hosted the first ever FA cup match and the first even FA Cup final. The stadium is also an important place for other sports as it witnessed several international rugby matches, rock concerts and even ice-skating. Now, England is to face wrath from every sport protagonist. Whether England Cricket Board (ECB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) put these men to trial remains to be seen. Since, if this act goes unattended by authorities, it might mark the beginning of the end of the gentleman's era in cricket.