Aaron Finch had a tough time with the bat during the recently held Big Bash League, scoring 179 runs at an average of 13.76 in 13 innings for Melbourne Renegades and Australia’s white-ball skipper endured another failure in the opening T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Monday (February 22).
Finch scored 1 off 2 balls in Australia’s embarrassing 53-run defeat in the first game of the five-T20I series.
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Amid his horrific form, Finch suffered another setback last week as he was ignored by all eight franchises at the IPL 2021 auction.
However, it was something that didn’t come as a surprise for Finch.
“It would have been nice to be playing again,” Finch told cricket.com.au on Sunday (February 21). “It’s a wonderful competition to be a part of but it wasn’t unexpected that I wasn’t picked up, to be honest.
“I’d prefer to be playing cricket, but a little bit of time at home won’t be the worst thing.”
But Finch’s comments haven’t gone well with former Australia captain Michael Clarke, who believes that the right-handed opener is one of the best in the world.
“Well, like I said the other day, no IPL franchise; I can’t believe he come out and said, ‘oh yeah, I expected this to be the case,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday (February 23).
“You’re the Australian captain in that format, you should be expecting that every team wants you.
“And you’re allowed to have a bad series, like, even his BBL, if he’s got that attitude where he believe he’s as good as player as he is, then he says, ‘you know what, I’ve had a bad BBL but all that means is with every less score I’m due for a big one, I’m due for a big one, I’m due for a big one.’ Not, ‘I expected no-one to pick me up.’
“I don’t get that.”
A day after the IPL 2021 auction, Clarke had asked who was wrong – Australia’s selectors or the IPL?
“Are the Australian selectors wrong in Aaron Finch being our Twenty20 captain or is every IPL franchise wrong?” Clarke had said on Big Sports Breakfast last Friday (February 19).
“I can’t believe this. The Australian Twenty20 captain has not been bought. Someone is wrong.
“In no sport on the planet can you captain Australia and miss out on a tournament with a truckload of teams. Don’t tell me Aaron Finch is not good enough to be a part of one of those IPL teams.
“I cannot believe Finchy hasn’t been picked up. Even for Finchy, that’s got to hurt as the Australian T20 captain. I think he’s still, definitely at the top of the order, one of the best in the world.”
Meanwhile, Clarke wasn’t surprised by Australia’s heavy defeat in the first T20I against New Zealand.
“We’re given some young guys an opportunity, and you’re playing against a team that’s full of confidence in New Zealand that love playing in their own backyard. Not the result the Aussies wanted, but I can’t say I’m surprised to be honest,” Clarke said.
