The Coronavirus-induced break has come up with different challenges for sportsmen across the globe. In particular, the athletes who are in their 30s have a lot to think about from a career perspective.
Australia’s white-ball skipper Aaron Finch, who will turn 34 in November, also reassessed his career during the COVID-19 hiatus and he has planned to call it quit after the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
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“My end date at this stage is the World Cup final of the 2023 World Cup in India. That’s my goal and I’m sticking to it,” Finch was quoted as saying by SEN radio network.
“That’s what I had my mind set on a fair while (ago), but I think this period has just confirmed it. That’ll see me through to 36 (years old), obviously with form and everything permitting, and injuries.”
The five-month long break has rejuvenated Finch and he now desires to lead Australia in the next three global events – ICC T20 World Cup 2021, ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
“Having this break, as difficult as it’s been for so many people, for athletes and especially ones that are travelling nonstop and playing for 10 or 11 months of the year, it’s been that mental freshen up that people probably needed but haven’t had the opportunity to do.
“If I thought I was going to be pushing it to get to that date, this break has confirmed that I’ll be ready to go right through to that period,” he said.
The three T20Is and equal number of ODIs against England next month will be Australia’s first assignment post COVID-19. The T20Is will be played on September 4, 6 and 8 in Southampton followed by the three ODIs on September 11, 13 and 16 at Old Trafford.
Finch admitted that the Coronavirus lockdown made him realise how he missed the game.
"The first month or so that we were in lockdown, I didn't miss playing at all," he said.
"So originally, that was alarm bells for me; (I thought) does this mean I'm coming to the end, do I retire? And it was like that 32nd day (of no training) ticked over and I was like, 'right, I'm itching to get back into it'.
"I'm just excited to start playing again. It's been a long five months and I think for everyone having not had this kind of extended break for some time, I think the novelty of that wore off after the first three months and everyone's been itching to get back into it since then," he further remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
