AUS vs ENG: Aaron Finch fastest to 3000 T20I runs in terms of balls

Australia skipper Aaron Finch, who retired from the ODIs last month, became the fastest batter to reach 3000 runs in T20 internationals in terms of balls faced. He achieved the feat against England in the first of the three-match series on Sunday, October 09, 2022, in Perth. The 35-year-old right-handed batter completed the 3000^th run in 2078 deliveries, while India captain Rohit Sharma is in the second spot for reaching the milestone in 2149 balls against Namibia in 2021.

The Aussie captain became the sixth player overall to complete the landmark of 3000 runs in the shortest international format. The top five players, all right-handed cricketers, are the Indian duo of Rohit (3737), and Virat Kohli (3712), Kiwi Martin Guptill (3497), Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (3140), and Irish Paul Stirling (3011). In terms of innings, Finch became the second quickest to 3000 runs. The Victorian got to the feat in 98 innings while Kohli and Babar achieved it jointly in 81 innings.

Speaking more of the quickest to touch the 3000-run mark in terms of balls, India’s run-machine Kohli occupies the third spot for hitting those runs in 2169 deliveries against England in 2021, while Guptill took 2203 balls to get there against Scotland in the same year. Stirling is the fifth-fastest as he completed the 3000^th run in 2226 balls against Afghanistan this year. Pakistani skipper Babar is the slowest amongst all for reaching it in 2317 balls against England in the recently concluded series.

Talking about the match with England in which Finch achieved his feat, his side lost the opening encounter to their rivals by just eight runs as David Warner’s knock of 73 went in vain. The visitors, courtesy of half-centuries from captain Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, put on a massive total of 208/6 on the board. In reply, Finch made only 12 off seven while Mitchell Marsh (36) and Marcus Stoinis (35) got starts but couldn’t quite support Warner as the Aussies fell short to seal a victory.

Fastest to 3000 runs in T20Is (balls faced):