'It wasn't unexpected,' Aaron Finch on not being picked at IPL 2021 Auction
Last year, Australia's limited-overs captain Aaron Finch was the talk of the town after being picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ahead of the IPL 2020 season in the UAE, many cricket pundits pegged Finch to be the difference-maker for RCB in the UAE, but the story turned out to be completely different.
Finch played 12 games in the IPL 2020 season and managed to score just 268 runs at an average of 22.33, with just one score of 50+ to his name. The bit that hurt RCB the most was Finch's strike rate of 111.20. Opening the innings for the franchise, RCB expected the Australia batsman to give a strong start, but Finch struggled to get going.
Also read: Chopra reacts on India's T20 squad for England series
In the recently concluded Big Bash League tournament, Finch's struggles with the bat were highlighted once again. The batsman scored just 179 runs for Melbourne Renegades in 13 innings at an average of 13.76 in the tournament.
It came as a little surprise that when Finch's name was announced at the IPL 2021 Auction earlier this week, the batsman did not invite any bids from any of the eight franchises.
Speaking to reporters at a virtual press conference ahead of the New Zealand series, Finch said that he would have liked to be picked, but he was not surprised that he was not.
"It would've been nice to be playing again, it's an amazing competition to be a part of, but it wasn't unexpected that I didn't get picked up to be honest," Finch was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Also read: 'We grew up with such conditions,' Crawley says pink-ball Test will 'play into England's hands'
"I'd prefer to be playing cricket, but a little bit of time at home might not be the worst thing, having quite a full schedule since August when we left for the UK and a few times in quarantine and a lot of times in hubs and bubbles, I think just getting home and recharging the batteries might be nice. I know my wife's definitely looking forward to it," he added.
"I've been working on a few little technical things, trying to get a little bit less weight on my front foot. At times I can be a little bit flat-footed and my feet get planted and then I struggle to move again. I have my initial movement and then I get a little bit stuck.
"I've talked a lot and worked a fair bit with Andrew McDonald, who I go back to every time things don't seem quite right and he seems to sort it out pretty quick, so it's been nice to have a good chunk of training and focusing on a few little technical changes," he signed off.
Related Stories
'Disheartening':Jayawardene explains why no one from Lanka will play in IPL 2021
'I always want to play the short format': Pujara thanks CSK for picking him
- Pujara has always expressed a desire to be a part of the Indian Premier League. The last time the 33-year-old played in the IPL was in 2014 for Kings XI Punjab.
'Didn't report spot-fixing approach as I thought it won't remain confidential'
- Akmal was initially banned for three years from all cricket activities on February 20 last year for not reporting approaches made to him for spot-fixing in the Pakistan Super League.
BCCI announces India women's ODI and T20I squads for South Africa series
'They were either bowled or LBW': Sachin's praise for 'brilliant' India bowler
- Indian spinners combined to pick up 19 wickets against England in the third Test in Ahmedabad.
Bumrah released from India squad on personal request ahead of 4th Test
England's Chris Woakes flies back home, won't be part of fourth Test vs India
Shobha De shares a meme on Ravi Shastri, India head coach responds
- India head coach Ravi Shastri responded to a meme on him that was shared by columnist Shobha De.
Gambhir says life of soldiers more important than resumption of cricket with Pak
India vs England: That's the way the pitch crumbles
'Have played on grassy pitches in England where batting was impossible'
Suryakumar reveals what Hardik Pandya told him about Kohli's practice sessions
'A shallow victory': Vaughan says India allowed to get away with poor pitches
West Indies recall Gayle, Edwards for Sri Lanka T20 series
'This is bigger than Ashes': Bell explains where 'England have gone a bit wrong'
- England decided to send Ali back after the 2nd Test and it backfired. England played three seamers on a turning pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium and they dearly missed Moeen’s services in the 3rd Test.
'They should be embarrassed': Boycott lashes out at Eng's strategy for 3rd Test
- “England got sucked into thinking they were playing a pink ball test in Adelaide not Ahmedabad,” he added.
Here’s how R Ashwin’s planning for match ‘goes to a different level’
- In due course, Ashwin also became the second-fastest bowler to scalp 400 wickets in Test cricket. He ended scalping 7 wickets in the pink-ball Test which India won comprehensively by 10 wickets.
