CAIRNS: Australian white-ball captain Aaron Finch called time on his One-day International career Saturday after a poor run of form but will remain skipper of the Twenty20 side for the World Cup at home next month.

The 35-year-old, who has captained Australia 54 times in his 145 one-day matches, will play his final ODI on Sunday in Cairns against New Zealand, capping an outstanding career in the 50-over format in which he has scored 5,401 runs at an average of 39.

His 17 centuries put him behind only greats Ricky Ponting (29), David Warner and Mark Waugh (both 18), and one clear of Adam Gilchrist.

He will remain captain of the T20 side he led to a maiden World Cup crown last year, and has seven more games to find form before their title defence starts against the Black Caps in Sydney on October 22.

“It has been a fantastic ride with some incredible memories,” Finch said in a statement. “I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of some brilliant one-day sides. Equally, I have been blessed by all those I have played with and the many people behind the scenes.

“It is time now to give a new leader the best possible opportunity to prepare for and win the next ODI World Cup in India in 2023. I thank all of those who have helped and supported my journey to this point.”

While no one questioned his outstand­ing captaincy, the aggressive opener has been in a form rut with the bat.

He made a second ball duck in Australia’s 113-run victory over New Zealand on Thursday, the fifth time in 13 one-day innings this year that he has failed to score a run.

Despite his lack of runs, Finch took three catches and played his captaincy role with aplomb as the home side successfully defended a tally of 196 to win the series.

Test skipper Pat Cummins could be a candidate for new captain, along with Alex Carey, Steve Smith or even Mitchell Marsh, with their first ODI series after Finch departs coming against England at home immediately after the T20 World Cup.

Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley paid tribute to Finch as “a wonderful exponent of the 50-over format”.

“Aaron is an enormously gifted and determined player whose outstanding deeds with the bat have been matched by his strong and inspiring leadership,” he said.

“His decision to step aside from the ODI captaincy now is typical of his selfless approach to the game. I’m delighted Aaron will lead the Australian team into the forthcoming T20 World Cup where his leadership, experience and tactical nous will be integral to the defence of our T20 World Cup title on home soil.”

Widely known as Finchy, he made his one-day debut against Sri Lanka in 2013 and soon became a mainstay at the top of the order, playing a key role in their 2015 ODI World Cup-winning side.

STOINIS, WARNER OUT OF THIRD ODI

Australia said on Saturday that injured all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was ruled out of the final ODI against New Zealand, while opener David Warner was released from the squad to rest.

Stoinis lasted just six balls with the bat and bowled only three overs in the second ODI in Cairns on Thursday that Australia won by 113 runs.

With the three-match series wrapped up and Sunday’s final game a dead rubber, he will go for treatment on a low-level side strain in Perth leading into the team’s tour of India later this month.

Nathan Ellis has joined the squad as Australia push for a 3-0 series sweep against their trans-Tasman rivals.

Opener Warner was given time off “considering a heavy workload over the next 12 months and the series being secured”.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2022