Aaron Finch will be without a vital accessory when he takes on the Big Freeze slide on Monday but he will get one over Justin Langer. Plus, the hard-hitter hints at his local cricket future.
Finch will be unveiled on Thursday as the latest star to take the plunge in Big Freeze Nine, to combat MND, at the MCG on Monday, following the likes of surfer Mick Fanning, actor Eric Bana and Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne.
Amy dumps ice on her husband Aaron. Picture: Brad Fleet
The former Australian white-ball skipper got a cheeky message from Fight MND founder Neale Daniher that puts him on path to step past Langer, who coached the Australian side when Finch was captain between 2018-2022.
“I actually got a message off Neale Daniher the other day and he said Justin Langer was (slider) No.99 and he said ‘JL was run out for 99 so at least you will get a hundred’,” Finch said.
After he ended a distinguished international career in February, in which Finch built a record as one of Australia’s greatest ever short-form batters, the opener moved back to Geelong to settle with wife Amy and 21-month-old daughter Esther.
Justin Langer went down as Rocky Balboa last year. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
He was coy about what costume he will wear the ‘G, but he will be without one important piece of gear that got him through a multitude of post-game ice baths throughout his career.
“I was no good in the ice bath,” he said.
“I bought a pair of diving bootees that zipped up around my feet so my feet wouldn’t get too cold. That was one thing I hated about the ice bath, I could deal with it on my body but not my feet.
“Superheroes and villains is the overall theme (for costumes) and I am going a little bit left field, it’s not your traditional superhero but in our house is certainly is.”
Finch said he had no hesitation in taking up the offer when Daniher and the Fight MND team came calling to join an iconic roll call of sliders.
Aaron Finch cools down. Picture: Brad Fleet
“I was very grateful for the offer, I think the amount of work they have done over the last nine years, I think it is close to $70m raised, which is an extraordinary amount,” he said.
Finch keen to coach at Geelong
Aaron Finch would like to play again with Geelong next summer after a brief appearance last season but believes his impact on his Premier Club will be felt more as a coach.
The retired Australian white-ball skipper played his first game in six seasons for the Cats in November, scoring 35 in a Vic Super Slam T20 match.
Aaron Finch flicks one away when playing for Geelong in November. Picture: Alan Barber
Geelong has always kept its door open for the club great to play when he is available but even after retiring from international cricket, Finch is likely to be busy this summer as he plays on with Big Bash side Melbourne Renegades and continues his successful foray into commentating.
While the hard-hitter said he was keep to play at his home club, it would be hard to fit a game into his schedule.
Finch has settled in Geelong and said he does hope to be around the club more next summer.
“Playing wise I am not sure I will have the time to be honest,” he said.
“I would like to get down there and help out the younger guys with some coaching.
“I don’t think it has been the best couple of seasons in terms of results, I would like to get down there a little bit more throughout the summer but I am not sure I can commit to playing at the moment.”
Aaron Finch retired in February.
Finch retired in February after a stellar career that included 254 matches for his country and over 8000 runs but hasn’t had much of a chance to relax at home since, after spending six weeks in India commentating on the IPL.
Having seen the power of the IPL up close, he believes cricket is changing, with franchises closing in on signing more players into lucrative contracts to make clubs the priority over nations.
Finch said he hoped players still prioritised playing for their countries but the international calendar may need to be tweaked.
“I think the pinnacle is still international cricket and I think as guys get a little bit older, it probably allows them a bit more freedom, being contracted to a franchise and playing in different leagues around the world,” he said.
“It is a changing landscape. There is always talk about one-day cricket, T20 cricket and Test cricket all fitting into the same calendar, so I think there might need to be a bit of rejigging around that.”