Australia’s white-ball skipper Aaron Finch on Saturday (September 10) called time on his one-day international cricket career, saying it was time to hand over the baton.

Finch, 35, will feature in his 146th and final ODI on Sunday (September 11) in Cairns against New Zealand. However, he will continue to lead the national side in the shortest format of the game as they prepare to defend the T20 World Cup title on home soil next month.

"It has been a fantastic ride with some incredible memories," said Finch, who led the ODI team 54 times.

"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."

Aaron Finch’s decision may have had a lot to do with his poor form with the bat lately. The right-hander had registered scores of 5, 5, 1, 15, 0, 0, 0 in his last seven ODIs

Despite this, he was expected to lead Australia at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. In fact, Finch had said in 2020 that being in charge for that quadrennial event was his "ultimate goal".

"It is time now to give a new leader the best possible opportunity to prepare for and win the next World Cup," he said.

"I thank all of those who have helped and supported my journey to this point."

In 145 ODIs so far, Aaron Finch has amassed 5401 runs at an average of 39.13, including 17 hundreds and 30 half-centuries. He was also part of Australia’s 2015 ODI World Cup triumph.

(With AFP inputs)