By Zainab Shafiq 
Australian cricketer Aaron Finch, who bid farewell to international cricket earlier, is set to retire from professional cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career. Despite announcing his retirement from international play, Finch continued to showcase his cricketing prowess in professional leagues, including the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2024.
However, Finch’s BBL journey hit an unexpected roadblock as he suffered a back injury during a game for Melbourne Renegades on December 23. Despite his limited participation, Finch’s contribution to the Renegades has been significant. With only four games under his belt in the current BBL season, his franchise has decided to honor the cricketing stalwart with a farewell match scheduled against Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Reflecting on his impending retirement, Finch expressed that unlike his last One Day International (ODI) match against New Zealand in September 2022, where he remained composed, bidding adieu to the BBL would likely evoke different emotions.
“I haven’t got emotional around any of my retirements, which is quite strange,” Finch shared on Friday. “But maybe tomorrow I will. This has been a huge part of mine and my family’s life for the last 13 years, and I have put as much time and effort into it as I can. It’ll be sad, no doubt.”
The farewell match at Marvel Stadium is expected to draw a crowd exceeding 30,000, underlining the widespread admiration and support Finch has garnered throughout his cricketing journey. As he steps away from the pitch, Finch will retire as the 7th highest T20 run-scorer, accumulating more than 11,000 runs. He joins the ranks of cricketing legends like Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Virat Kohli, Alex Hales, and David Warner.
Looking ahead, Finch has plans to transition into the commentary box on a full-time basis after concluding his professional cricket career. The cricketing world awaits an emotional yet celebratory farewell to a player who has left an indelible mark on the T20 format.
Also, see:
Marcus Stoinis to play SA20 after BBL