Maxwell flies out still hurting after defeat

– Australian limitedovers skipper Aaron Finch (right) headed to India yesterday with a skip in his step after leading the Melbourne Renegades to the Big Bash League title, in contrast to a despondent Glenn Maxwell.

Finch’s Renegades clinched their first domestic Twenty20 crown in dramatic fashion on Sunday after city rivals the Stars, led by Maxwell, imploded during a tense run chase.

They lost seven wickets for 19 runs in one of the biggest capitulations in Australian cricket history, and Maxwell admitted it left him “pretty shattered”.

Australia flew out yesterday to play two T20s and five one-day internationals against Virat Kohli’s team.

Chasing 146 to win at Docklands Stadium, Maxwell’s men were cruising at 93/0 before dramatically collapsing.

Finch said he was thrilled by the 13-run win, which was just the tonic for a man who has gone through an eventful summer.

He was appointed Australia’s one-day captain in a World Cup year, before making his long-awaited Test debut.

But he has since been dropped from the Test squad after failing to fire, and has not been as destructive as usual in the shorter form of the game.

His season seemed to be summed up on Sunday with a bizarre dismissal when Cameron White’s straight drive deflected off bowler Jackson Bird’s boot to hit the stumps, with Finch stranded outside his crease.

He stormed off and smashed a plastic chair with his bat in the tunnel, then gave it another whack for good measure.

But the drama is all behind him now, with India his focus.

“I don’t think you need anything to put a pep in your step when you’re going on an Aussie tour, particularly to India,” he told reporters.

Maxwell, a good friend who used to share a room with Finch, admitted he was devastated by the BBL loss, and said his opening batsmen Ben Dunk and Marcus Stoinis – who is also in the squad to play India – ideally would have killed off the game earlier.

“I thought we did well with the ball, executed well, did everything right,” he said.

“And up until the 12th over (with the bat) I thought we were fine. I’m pretty shattered to be honest.” – AFP