DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
YOU’VE BEEN SAVING THE RUNS FOR TONIGHT
MELBOURNE Renegades captain Aaron Finch has vowed to maintain his bullocking batting style, despite hitting the worst form slump of his Big Bash League career.
As the Renegades meet a winless Sydney Sixers in Geelong tonight, Finch declared he would continue his aggressive approach after single-figure scores in the first three match- es of the tournament. “I’m still hitting them great in the nets at the moment,” the Colac product said, adamant he has lost no confidence after knocks of four, eight and zero.
“It hasn’t translated to runs in the middle just yet, but it’s T20.
“When you’re looking to go hard in the first six, sometimes you get a bit unlucky at times, and I’m still feeling very confident in myself and my game.
“I’ve been a pretty success- ful player in this format for the best part of 10 years and three below-par knocks isn’t going to worry me too much.”
The second-highest runscorer in BBL history with 1573, Finch has hit a rut following an extraordinary BBL06 campaign that netted 354 runs at a strike rate of 160.90.
The limited-overs specialist played a loose shot in the opening match against Hobart Hurricanes before being undone by brilliant pieces of bowling from Brisbane Heat spinner Shadab Khan and Perth Scorchers’ quick Mitchell Johnson.
“In the first game I swung across the line and got a top edge up the chimney, second game I was tentative in my approach and in the last game I was a little tentative again,” Finch said.
“I was waiting for Mitchell Johnson to give me a bad ball and he hasn’t done that for a while now. I think it’s about going back and being ultra positive at the top of the order, taking the game on and trying to really set up the game for us in the first six overs.”
While Finch has battled for runs, the ‘Gades have impressed in two of their three outings, losing to two-time defending champions Perth in a thriller on Friday.
They were quick to move on, only discussing the game briefly in the bowels of GMHBA Stadium before training yesterday.
“We don’t tend to talk too much straight after a game, win or lose,” Finch said.
“With the emotion of the game, I think it’s ideal if you give yourself 24 hours to be able to digest it and come back with a clearer head.
“If you debrief straight after a game, emotions are high. You can either gloss over things you didn’t do well or go hard on things you think you can improve on.
“It’s worked well in the past, I enjoy it this way, it gives the guys a chance to reflect on their own and it gives you a chance to sit back and watch some footage on things you could’ve done better or talk about things we really did well.”
Fielding was a significant issue for the Renegades, who also struggled with the bat, setting the Scorchers just 131 to win. “We probably played at 40 per cent and almost got there,” Finch said.
The Sixers find themselves with their backs against the wall, losing all four matches, but Finch remains wary of the wounded warrior.
“They’ve got a lot of talented players at the top of the order,” he said.
“Jason Roy, I’ve played a lot with him in the IPL and for Surrey, and I know how damaging he can be.
“Nic Maddinson has made a couple of 30s and hopefully we can restrict him at the top of the order and they’ve got a lot of experience in their group.
“They’ve had a settled group for a while now and that can work to your advantage when the going gets tough, which it is now, and I’m sure they’ll come out swinging hard, and we’ll have to play at our very best.
“Any time you come up against a side with their backs against the wall, it will be our job to get on top of them with bat or ball in the first six overs and stay on top for the match.”