BBL13: Aaron Finch to retire from professional cricket after Melbourne Renegades season

One of Australia’s greatest white-ball cricketers, Aaron Finch, will retire from professional cricket at the end of the Big Bash League season. WATCH his record-breaking T20 innings.

World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch will retire from professional cricket at the end of the Big Bash League season.

Finch, 37, has a season left to run on his contract with the Big Bash League’s Melbourne Renegades but the club confirmed on Thursday that he would be retiring at the end of this campaign.

The former Australian white-ball captain had fallen out of the Renegades XI through the side’s struggles this season.

He bows out as one of the BBL’s most accomplished players, leading the Renegades to what remains their sole title five seasons ago, having been a part of the club since the BBL started.

Finch’s retirement from major cricket has been gradual. Briefly a Test player in late 2018, Finch led Australia to a Twenty20 World Cup win in 2021 before pulling the pin on one-day international cricket amid diminishing returns the following year.

Aaron Finch lifts the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Trophy in 2021. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

He remained national T20 skipper through the unsuccessful title defence in late 2022 before retiring from international cricket altogether early last year.

The Victorian had gradually transitioned into the commentary box over the past 12 months including being part of the global feed at last year’s World Cup.

He had also been due to play in a legends league tournament in India before the BBL season but pulled out at the eleventh hour.

The Renegades have endured a tumultuous season, facing an uphill battle to make the finals. Nic Maddinson, Finch’s successor as captain, was dropped last month for poor form.

Originally published as BBL13: Aaron Finch to retire from professional cricket after Melbourne Renegades season