BBL 2021-22: Aaron Finch set to make his return for Melbourne Renegades

Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch played an essential role in the T20 World Cup 2021. Under his leadership, the team won its first T20 World Cup. He made 135 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 116.37.

However, post the T20 WC, Finch has not been able to play a single game due to knee soreness. It was a result of the knee surgery that didn’t allow him to participate in the tournament in the first place. But, he will make a return for his Big Bash League team, Melbourne Renegades, on December 22 against Perth Scorchers.

“[The recovery] was just hampered by the World Cup,” Finch said as quoted by Cricinfo.

“We pushed really hard to get back for that and it was a risk well worth taking, but it just probably needed a little bit more time,” he added.

Finch also mentioned that not playing a game since the World Cup has allowed him to become fit again. He also said that he was all ready to hit a lot of balls in the coming days.

“From the end of the World Cup to now has been a good, solid month of rehab, which has helped. I’ll hit a lot of balls in the next couple of days and I’m feeling good at the moment,” Finch said.

Melbourne Renegades finds itself in the last position in the points table

Renegades have played a total of three matches and has won only a single game. The team won its first game against the Adelaide Strikers by two runs in the last over. But, the team went on to lose the next two games against Strikers and Brisbane Heat.

Aaron Finch, who is the second leading run-scorer in BBL history, will boost the batting lineup of Renegades that has an inexperienced top order.

“The last couple of games, batting second, a little bit of inexperience probably creates a bit of chaos at times,” Finch said.

“[Mackenzie] Harvey has started off beautifully and the way Zahir [Khan] has joined the group and done really well has been really impressive,” he added.

“But you couldn’t ask for a huge amount more from a really young group of guys who haven’t played much T20 cricket. “[When your top six is inexperienced] you’re always going to have your back against the wall but it’s something that we knew was going to happen a few weeks ago,” Finch mentioned this regarding the team’s performance.