'I don't see the point': Finch makes a call on first-class career

Any benefit the experience of Finch could provide to younger players, in red ball cricket is countered by his career-long struggle with his footwork and front leg movement. They will learn more poor habits than good.

Very true, but it's Finch, not Ponting and it's 4 day cricket not 20/20 hit'n'giggle. Finch spent a decade of shield cricket to average 27 before realising, on a pitch with a little movement, he needed the protection the middle order brings. Finch retiring from shield cricket isn't news. It does sound better than not being selected though.

Well said. Ricky Ponting came back to sheffield shield in 2012/13 after getting axed from tests, dominated the season, leading run scorer and took Tas all the way to the final and victory over Qld. Nothing about leaving spots for the next generation, take it off me if you're good enough, and even in the twilight of his career was head and shoulders above all the others.

Pretty sure this is how any unbiased observer would view Finchy’s test career. World class white baller but never quite good enough at FC stuff. No disgrace, he’s been great value as a captain and a brilliant opener in OD and T20 cricket for Australia. As a fan, I hope he puts the country ahead of himself and retires as he’s nowhere near our best T20 team on form

good retort

you didn't think. you didn't do your own research. you bludged, and then asked me to provide a list for your point, not mine. and then you snipped again, when I deciced not to be your whipping boy but seeing as you asked nicely, and I like your name, and without checking cricinfo: Bird Burns Henriques Hughes Tremain Nevill Siddle Worrell S Marsh Tye Gannon Copeland Paine and now Maxwell and Finch whatever you are going to say next, don't, because i won't be reading it. do your own navigating!

Another way to view those numbers would be to suggest that the experienced player getting set and not going on to make a big score, simply isn't good enough. For example,some might see his 25 as throwing a start away. Either way, he was given en a chance and, like several others, didn't do enough with it.

Yeah, thought so

No thanks

Finch has already flagged retiring after the 2023 ODI World Cup. That's now his entire focus - - - and won't be distracted by red ball cricket. Fair enough. We he NOT playing any form of national rep cricket - - then it'd be a call of the Vic selectors whether his experience was required in the playing XI.

Please list all the 30+ journeymen “offering experience” playing in the Shield right now. So no Aus contracted players. And since 30 is an age many think you can still make you debut for Aus you really should be listing all the 33 or 35 plus year olds

That’s true, but Victoria does have a good core of senior batsmen - Harris, Maddinson, Handscomb, Pucovski (when available), so Finch not desperately needed there. He’d be more useful in a state like Tasmania, SA or NSW. You’d also question whether his body can still hold up to 4 day cricket given his struggles with his knee over the last year.

Agreed re the general FC appraisal. What he's kinda suffered for - through the last 5-7 years or so - - is that he's played so very little red ball cricket that his career stats stalled and don't reflect what for most batsman would be their most productive FC years. re my view......I absolutely acknowledged the elements of my post that were my opinion. It's not opinion to say he was unfortunate for having not referred the doubtful catch on tea. That's fact. And it's not opinion to say that he was unfortunate to get that bad finger injury. That's fact. Let alone how unfortunate that he was in a very productive test following a first innings 50 and was motoring along on 25 not out at the time (out of 33 scored). That too is pretty well fact and not opinion.

That's your view and you're welcome to it. For all his years of FC cricket, there was rarely anything to suggest he was a test level player. His time in test cricket simply confirmed what most already knew.

The other thing Finch is missing is that these young kids he is making way need to play against the top players as much as possible to improve. Otherwise the Shield is just a under 25 comp outside of the contracted players.

Yes, I am very aware of that, doesn't mean he has to play along, tow the company line.

For Finch - the unfortunate thing was the lack of review in Adelaide (after the duck in the first); he'd worked hard for his 11 and to get to tea. Can't help but feel he was undone by nerves in the first innings too. Then to Perth - and his first innings 50 was actually very good until......he played a white ball style shot across the line.....and that's part of the problem for the guys who get so locked into the white ball circuit. His second innings if you recall - he was looking excellent again - got to 25 quite quickly but whacked on the hand had to retire hurt (0-33). Resumed at 5-192 and got the glove down legside. THAT was unfortunate. That finger injury was actually pretty bad - - split right open and the bone was apparently visible. So - 2 tests in a row he'd lacked that bit of luck. Then he just blew it at the MCG..........on his home track and he blew it and that was a shame. Perhaps his finger injury SHOULD have ruled him out and perhaps he just too keen to play at the 'G. So..............he didn't prove doubters wrong........a smidge more luck and he might have. What IS a fact though is that India out bowled Australia in that series and bowled exceptionally well. Bumrah in particular was supurb. So while some might glibly assert him to be a Test spud...........I don't.

His body is wearing down? Gees my friend he has a lot of disappointments on the way!

The Shield been devalued to a try-out for Australian selection. That was done by years of CA decisions not by Finch.

it's always been a balance. Finch is tilting the balance. as is his right when NSW were blooding Smith Khawaja Hughes Maddinson they were doing them, and Australia, a great service