The stats don’t lie, Finch is one of the world’s best

Roar Rookie

28th August, 2014

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Aaron Finch could make the Test team yet. (AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES)

Hugh McDonald

Roar Rookie

28th August, 2014

August 29th 2013. Aaron Finch belts a phenomenal 156 in a Twenty20 against England.

Exactly one year on and Finch has cemented his spot as one of the world’s best short form cricketers. I don’t say that lightly, my stats below back this up!

Aaron Finch has experienced a meteoric rise in the past 12 months. His international cricketing career was fledgling, in and out of both national Twenty20 and ODI sides following his Twenty20 debut against England in 2011.

Given the 2012-13 home summer to prove himself in both formats, the lad from country Colac couldn’t muster up anything more than 38 in 10 innings across the two formats. The Grinch, as he’s known to his teammates, would be dropped for the upcoming Champions Trophy in England, and it seemed once again he was destined for the international cricketing abyss.

That was until Darren Lehmann, a man of a similar mould and character, entered the national set up. Finch was recalled to the 2013 Twenty20and ODI sides that would tour England following the Ashes. To say Finch grasped this opportunity with both hands is a gross understatement.

The meteoric rise begun with a record-breaking 156 against England in a T20 at the Rose Bowl, and five days later the Grinch would follow this up with 148 in an ODI against Scotland.

To put into perspective how successful his last 12 months have been, you have to compare his statistics during this period to other international stars.

• During this 12 month period, across both Twenty20 and ODI cricket, only Virat Kohli has scored more runs than him;
• He has scored the most Twenty20 runs and the 10th most ODI runs during the 12-month period;
• Of the twelve players that have scored 1000+ runs across the two formats in this period, his combined average is bettered only by George Bailey, AB De Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Virat Kohli;
• He’s scored five hundreds across the two forms in this period, and that is matched only by Quinton de Kock.

Along with these brilliant performances at international level was Finch’s 181* in Lords’ 200th Anniversary exhibition match played earlier this year. The match involved legends of the game including Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Muttiah Muralitharan and a host of others.

But it was the Grinch who stole cricket fan’s Christmas, with a swashbuckling knock that left even Tendulkar in awe. The little master reportedly told Finch throughout the innings how it was such a joy to watch him in full flight.

On top of an agglomeration of large scores, he has matured as an international batsman. The consistency that he lacked in the start of his international career is now a trademark of his game. Finch can now be confidently relied upon to manufacture the start of an innings for Australia.

An aggressive batsman by nature, gone are the days his of wild heaves. What’s been welcomed in is a much more controlled approach. Finch’s massive maximums lead to the spreading of the field and he’s now taking advantage of these gaps by dabbing the ball around the field to rotate the strike and build an innings.

His compact foot movement has allowed him to get on the front foot early and smother the swing from the new ball.

It’s with this newfound approach that Finch will arguably be Australia’s most important batsman at the upcoming world cup. Along with David Warner, the pair will hopefully get Australia off to fast starts.

It’s not only the damage they do on the scoreboard though, it’s the brutality with which they disarm opposition attacks that really grinds fielding teams in to the ground.

It’s not solely his batting that will be of use to Australia in the world cup, with his spot in the side now cemented his status as a leader grows. He’s now captained Victoria, the Renegades, Australia A and the Pune Warriors and this experience will be invaluable for the likes of Michael Clarke and George Bailey.

Aaron Finch’s status in the game has flourished over the last twelve months, he is indeed currently one of, if not, the premier opening batsman in International short form cricket. The statistics justify what an astounding period of cricket this has been for him.

His hundred against South Africa two days ago displayed how far he has come as he mixed adept control with his trademark brash blows out of the ground. And it’s with all of this that he will find himself labelled one of Australia’s most important cogs in its quest to win the upcoming world cup.

	ODI Statistics 29/8/2013-29/8/2014
	Innings	Runs	Strike Rate	Average	50s	100s
Kohli	19	1059	107	62	6	4
Finch	17	836	95	49	3	4
De Kock	16	972	92	61	2	5
Sangakarra	25	1044	90	44	7	3
Shezhad	22	999	77	45	6	3
Hafeez	21	972	84	57	3	4
Mathews	26	965	88	54	7	0
Sharma	21	921	87	51	5	2
Amla	15	798	85	57	2	4
Bailey	16	849	106	65	7	1
De Villiers	17	884	111	63	3	4
Dilshan	20	779	81	41	7	0

	Twenty20 Statistics 29/8/2013-29/8/2014
	Innings	Runs	Strike Rate	Average	50s	100s
Kohli	7	348	129	87	4	0
Finch	12	544	162	45	4	1
De Kock	11	293	123	33	0	0
Sangakarra	10	204	117	29	1	0
Shezhad	11	224	124	22	0	1
Hafeez	11	212	103	24	1	0
Mathews	8	176	134	25	1	0
Sharma	7	208	122	35	2	0
Amla	11	331	126	30	1	0
Bailey	12	196	154	25	1	0
De Villiers	8	158	153	23	1	0
Dilshan	12	263	113	26	2	0

	Combined ODI & T20I Batting Statistics
	For the Period of Aug 29 2013 – Aug 29 2014
	(Qualification: Minimum 1000 Runs across the two formats)

	Innings	Runs	Strike Rate	Average	50s	100s
Kohli	26	1407	112	67	10	4
Finch	29	1380	113	48	7	5
De Kock	27	1265	98	51	2	5
Sangakarra	35	1248	93	40	8	3
Shezhad	33	1223	83	38	6	4
Hafeez	32	1184	87	46	4	4
Mathews	34	1141	93	46	8	0
Sharma	28	1129	92	47	7	2
Amla	26	1129	94	45	3	4
Bailey	28	1045	113	50	8	1
De Villiers	25	1042	116	50	4	4
Dilshan	32	1042	87	36	9	0

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