Aaron Finch donned Cats colours for the first time since 2017
The Australian star stepped out for Geelong for the first time in five years last week. And the former Cats captain has declared whether he wants more local action.
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Big-hitting opener Aaron Finch says he is keen to play more games with Geelong this summer as he dares the public not to write him off on the eve of the Big Bash League.
The Melbourne Renegades star made his first appearance with his home Premier Cricket club in five years last week, when he topscored with 35 in Geelong’s T20 loss to Essendon.
Finch said he enjoyed his first game with the club since 2017 but he wasn’t available on Tuesday night when the Cats went down in heartbreaking circumstances, with Melbourne Uni’s Corey Rocchiccioli hitting a six off the final ball of the match to beat Geelong.
His outing for the Cats was Finch’s first match since he hurt his hamstring against Ireland during the T20 World Cup in October.
“Not having a hit in the lead up had me pretty nervous actually turning up to Geelong but it was great to be back playing for the club,” he said.
“I think it was 2017 that I last played (there) so it was great to play with some young kids I hadn’t played with before. I had to introduce myself to a few of them but it was great fun.
“I hope (that I can play again), I am not sure about the schedule.
“The schedules not matching up is the biggest thing, it is not through not wanting to (play) or anything like that, it is purely through availability.”
While Finch is keen for more Premier Cricket appearances, his outings will likely be limited to T20 matches after he joked 50-overs was “too long in the field these days”.
The white ball star said he was feeling refreshed ahead of the BBL, with the Renegades beginning their season in Cairns on December 15.
Finch will be back at GMHBA Stadium on December 21 to face the Brisbane Heat, with another game scheduled in Geelong on December 30 against the Sydney Sixers.
When asked whether this would be his last BBL campaign, the 36-year-old said he was keen to carry on.
“Hopefully people don’t write me off too quick,” he said.
The December 30 match will follow a Festival of Sport at Kardinia Park, a free event for the public to get active and have a go at over 20 different sports and displays.
‘Calming’ Finch a hit at Geelong
While the game ended in disappointing fashion for Geelong, Cats captain Josh McDonald says Aaron Finch was a “calming influence” in Tuesday’s T20 clash with Essendon.
Finch returned to his old stomping ground for the first time since 2017, making 35 as Geelong failed to chase down Essendon’s 107 in the opening round of the Vic Super Slam.
A packed out crowd consumed Geelong Cricket Ground as the 36-year-old cleared the fence on two occasions, with a hit onto the netball courts sending a crowd of players ducking for cover.
McDonald said Finch was a “pretty chilled” character around the group.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play with him a few times over the years so to do it again, it’s always good fun and an amazing opportunity for sure,” he said.
“He’s pretty chilled, just goes about it, really, really chilled and probably a good calming influence for anyone at the other end, not just me.
“Having one of the world’s best ever to play T20 cricket internationally at the other end at club level, it’s pretty handy.”
After keeping Essendon to 8-107 from its 20 overs, Geelong was in the box seat to take a round 1 win in the midweek T20 competition.
Thomas Neate (4-9), Callum Stow (2-13) and Daanish Mehta (1-14) starred with the ball, however it couldn’t be replicated with the willow.
Mehta was the next best performer behind Finch, making 13 as the Cats were bundled out for 103 in the final over.
“Disappointing with the bat and that’s probably been our (downfall) most of the year with not (continuing) on with some good starts … so that was very disappointing to not chase down 100,” McDonald said.
“Our bowling, Tom Neate, Callum Stow and Daanish Mehta were outstanding, so there’s some really good prospects and they’ll get their chances in the standard format for sure with the form they’ve got going.
“You never want to make excuses but the interrupted weather training-wise, things like that they’ve all built up and we’re just a bit rusty.
“Round 1 we scored 290 chasing 310, so it’s there, it just needs a breakthrough game and hopefully it rolls on.”
Geelong fans made their presence felt for Finch’s homecoming, something McDonald hopes might happen again in the future.
“Really, really good crowd, the whole hill was full … it was good for the club financially and good for Geelong cricket in general to have so many people come down and watch,” he said.
“They were going off when he cleared the fence a few times, so it was good.
“I think the last time he played for the Cats was in 2017, so a few years in-between hits.
“You never know, hopefully we can get a few more out of him, but I know his schedule’s pretty busy come Big Bash and what not.”
How Finch return will provide ‘great insight’ for next gen Cats
Aaron Finch’s return to Geelong colours is set to give the region’s young Premier Cricket talent “great insight” into the mindset of one of Australia’s greatest white-ball batters.
The Australian T20 skipper will pull on Cats colours for the first time since March 2017 on Tuesday, when Geelong hosts Essendon in a T20 Super Slam clash.
Finch captained the Cats on his way to higher levels and was wooed back after a chat with the club about an academy named in his honour.
Geelong cricket director Travis Agg floated the idea and after a conversation between Finch and his good friend and current Cats skipper Josh McDonald, the opening bat committed to taking on Essendon.
“Josh messaged (the selectors) and said (Finch) was good to go and we had a chat to make sure it was going to be all good and he was going to be able to come along and just play cricket,” Agg said.
“I think it shows the character of the guy that he was willing to put his hand up.
“He could have quite easily said ‘thanks, but no thanks’ but I think he is so genuine, he is a man of his word … it was probably that he and Josh are close and it was an opportunity for him to play and worked out for everyone. I think deep down he has a bit of a soft spot for the Geelong Cricket Club and from our perspective we are over the moon.”
Agg said having the veteran big hitter on board would be an invaluable learning experience for younger member of the Cats squad.
“It will be a great insight to what a world class player looks like and what they do, to be able to observe that and see the different in the standard will be great,” he said.
“To be honest we have a lot of young players who are progressing upwards in terms of what their cricket looks like so for them to experience that and get an idea of what that (standard) is, it will be great.”
Geelong has long kept the door open for Finch to play for the club and having retired from one day cricket at the start of the summer, Agg said the Cats were give Finch a game whenever he wanted.
“Hopefully it is a good experience for him and he enjoys being around the Geelong Cricket Club,” Agg said.
The Super Slam clash begins at 5.15pm at Geelong Cricket Ground.
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Originally published as Aaron Finch donned Cats colours for the first time since 2017
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