Australia v New Zealand third ODI news: Aaron Finch’s failure doesn’t dampen spirits for Aussies

Aaron Finch’s final ODI appearance for Australia didn’t pan out how he would have liked, but the retiring skipper and his teammates did get the desired result against the visiting Kiwis.

Usman Khawaja is well set for life after cricket.

Aaron Finch didn’t get a fairy tale finish with the bat, but the retiring skipper did finish his decorated one-day international career a winner after Australia completed a clean sweep against New Zealand.

Australia’s bid to claim a 3-0 series win was in trouble early on Sunday, but a magnificent century to player-of-the-series Steve Smith (105 from 131 balls) helped the home side to 5-267 from 50 overs.

New Zealand began the run chase in fine fashion and needed 39 runs from the last four overs with three wickets in hand, but a run of 10 dot balls including a wicket put the clamps on, with Australia bowling the Kiwis out for 242 to claim a 25-run win in Cairns.

It was a fitting finish to a big day for Finch that didn’t start well for him.

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Retiring skipper Aaron Finch walks off after playing his last ODI for Australia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

After New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and sent Australia in, Finch faced just 13 balls before he departed, bowled by Tim Southee for five in the sixth over.

It continued a well-documented lean patch for the 35-year-old who made it into double figures just once in his last eight innings and managed scores of 15, 1, 5, 5, 0 and 5 in recent series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

Finch, who announced his ODI retirement on Saturday, never settled at the crease in his 146th and final ODI.

He survived a big LBW shout by Southee, who got another delivery to nip back off the seam three balls later that clattered into middle and leg after Finch played around it.

It was a low-key end to a storeyed career with the bat for Finch, who will remain T20I skipper but has captained the ODI side for the 55th and final time, finishing with 31 wins and 24 losses.

“It’s been a fun ride, I’ve loved every bit of it,” Finch told Fox Cricket.

“To have a fair bit of team success along the way is what you play for and sitting around having a beer with your mates in the change room after you win a game or a series is what I’ll miss most.

Finch acknowledges the crowd's applause as he walks back to the pavilion following his dismissal. Picture: AFP

“My career has had plenty of ups and downs and to always have the support of the change room is something that I’ve loved and felt my whole career.”

Finch’s struggles in a year when he managed just one ODI half-century won’t diminish his standing as a respected leader and one of the most destructive opening batters the game has seen.

After making his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at the MCG in 2013, he made 5,406 runs, including 17 centuries and 30 fifties, at an average of 38.89 and a strike rate of 87.73.

Finch was afforded a guard of honour by New Zealand’s players as he strode to the crease, with a handshake and a pat on the back from Williamson, but the civilities ended there with the visitors quickly turning the screws.

Fans were denied one last look at the famed Finch-David Warner opening pairing, with Warner rested and Josh Inglis taking his place at the top of the order.

Inglis failed to grasp his opportunity in his second ODI, dropped on four then dismissed for 10, caught behind off the bowling of Boult.

Australia's Steve Smith plays a shot on his way to a superb century in Cairns.

When Finch went seven balls later, Australia was in trouble at 2-16 before Marnus Labuschagne (52 off 78) joined Smith, with the pair happy to knock ones and twos to occupy the crease before accelerating.

After a watchful start, the pair put on a matchwinning 118-run partnership off 173 deliveries, with Alex Carey (42 not out off 43) chipping in with an important late cameo.

New Zealand openers Devon Conway (21 off 26) and Finn Allen (35 off 38) raced to 49 runs in a bright start to the run chase, but their opening partnership was broken in the ninth over.

A mix-up with Glenn Phillips saw Williamson run out on 27, but a 61-run partnership off 58 balls between Phillips (47 off 53) and James Neesham (36 off 34) gave the visitors hope before Cameron Green removed Neesham.

Reborn Khawaja’s plan for life beyond cricket

– Robert Craddock

As well as hitting boundaries, born again batsman Usman Khawaja will also be hitting the books on the road this season.

Or at least the online version of them.

Always his own man, Khawaja will undertake a path no Australian Test cricketer has taken as he studies for a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) while touring with the Australian team.

Former fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz also has an MBA but completed it after his two decade cricket career ended.

Khawaja, who has averaged 98 for the calendar year in a stunning resurgence featuring four centuries in seven Tests, will have a Bond University sticker on the back of his bat this summer to salute the Gold Coast University he has decided to join.

“After cricket I want to expand my horizons and give myself opportunities in the future,’’ said Khawaja, who also has a Bachelor of Aviation degree.

“I still very much want to play cricket for a little while and after that I still probably want to be involved in cricket in some respect. Whether commentating or media, whatever it may be.

“That’s probably the path I prefer, but who knows will happen later on in life and I’m always inquisitive. Things might be different for me at 40, 50 or 60. If I want to join a board down the track this will help my knowledge base.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja will study an MBA at Bond University as he charts a post-sport career (Image courtesy Bond University)

“We’re going to have a crack. I love the (Bond Uni) campus but the most important thing to me was the people and attention to detail. It’s a relatively small campus in terms of admissions so you have more chance to interact with your lecturers and tutors on a personal level.”

“They give options to be able to do my degree and to play cricket at the same time.

“It is supposed to be a year and half of study but I will dip my toes in and go pretty slowly. I will study on tour and it could be a good time to study.’’

In some ways Khawaja’s decision to study while on tour shows my he has reinvigorated himself as an international player.

The father of two has realised there more to life than cricket and he feels the acceptance of that fact freed his mindset.

“It’s just perspective – as I am talking to you I am holding my daughter and am moving her from one arm to the other. It’s just different phases of your life.’’

Bond University Vice Chancellor, Professor Tim Brailsford, said Khawaja would join a distinguished line of sports scholars to have studied at Bond including many Olympians.

“The Bond Elite Sports Program supports dozens of top-tier athletes and complements our well-regarded sports science and related research programs,” Professor Brailsford said.

Originally published as Australia v New Zealand third ODI news: Aaron Finch’s failure doesn’t dampen spirits for Aussies