Aaron Finch and David Warner set relive long-term opening partnership in Fox Cricket BBL commentary box
Aaron Finch and David Warner are the second longest pairing in Australia’s ODI history. So they won’t have to get to know each other in Fox Cricket commentary box, writes BEN HORNE.
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Aaron Finch recently sat beside Mick Jagger, but the words Start Me Up will have a different connotation once he wraps up his outstanding playing career in the coming days.
Rock and roll royalty will be replaced by kings of cricket in the Fox Cricket commentary box as the Big Bash reaches the business end of the season, with Finch to soon rekindle his long-term partnership with David Warner.
The dynamic duo opened the batting in 119 innings together for Australia and their success as an ODI pairing is eclipsed only by Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.
Warner will debut on the Fox coverage on Monday night at the MCG for the Melbourne Stars’ battle with the Hobart Hurricanes, while Finch is likely to join him in the box on Fox before the end of the BBL season having been part of Fox’s coverage during the summer.
Finch walked into a Kolkata restaurant during the World Cup in India to discover Rolling Stones maestro Jagger sitting at the table next to he and fellow Fox Cricket commentator, Mark Howard.
After some encouragement from Howard, Finch plucked up the courage to go over and introduce himself to massive cricket fan Jagger – but he won’t need to dig quite as deep to connect with Warner, who he has known since he was about 14 years of age.
Finch believes the man who has stood opposite him down the other end for the best part of two decades will be a hit in the commentary box as well.
“Aaron, he loves David and whenever you ask him about David – and obviously David is joining Fox –he has said to me numerous times, ‘he will be a great part of the team,’” Howard said.
“(Aaron says) he’s a great team player. He’s a great gel amongst the teams that Finchy has played in. he’s going to be unbelievable at Fox, because he’s great in a team environment, so I’m really looking forward to seeing that as well.
“I’m intrigued to see what he (Warner) will really be like in commentary. He’s normally a fairly forthright customer and that’s what makes great sports commentary, people that give their opinions.”
It’s always an adjustment for recently retired players to adjust to life in the commentary box, and Howard witnessed Finch living it – in a good way – in India at the World Cup.
Finch had been travelling to India as an Australian and IPL superstar for more than 15 years – yet this was the first time he really got to see the real India.
“I said, ‘come on, Finchy,’ we’re going to go out and explore Kolkata,” Howard said.
“In 20 years he’s hardly been able to leave the hotel because of cricket commitments and the size of his fame.
“I lost track at 500 selfies that he took or I took of him. He’s a much-loved figure.
“He introduced me to Mick Jagger that night, so he returned the favour.
“I told Finchy, ‘listen mate, Mick is going to know who you are, so you’re the one who needs to bowl in there.
“It took him a while to get the courage up, and then he did it.”
Originally published as Aaron Finch and David Warner set relive long-term opening partnership in Fox Cricket BBL commentary box
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