Explosive hitter Aaron Finch has set his sights on making the Australian Test team after being named Twenty20 player of the year.
Finch, deservedly recognised as Australia’s premier T20 player over the past year at the Allan Border Medal on Monday, is on his way to cementing his spot at the top of the order in the 50-over game too.
But the 27-year-old also wants to play in the game’s toughest arena, Test cricket.
“I feel as though Twenty20 has probably been my strength over the past few years and I’m really excited about it. It is a very fun form of the game,” Finch said on Tuesday.
“It has been a pretty amazing journey over the past couple of years for me personally. Any time you play for Australia, you don’t take anything for granted.
“But I wouldn’t say Twenty20 is my favourite format, Test cricket is still the No.1 goal and I hope to get to that stage at some point in the near future.”
What is holding Finch back from Test selection is a poor first-class record. In 38 Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria, he averages just 28 – well below his incredible mark of 52 from his nine T20 internationals and 33 in his 21 ODIs.
There is no doubt Finch has the talent, as evidenced by his stunning 156 off 110 balls against England in Southampton in August which is the highest individual score in a T20 international by some distance.
But he knows he has to learn to apply himself in the longer form of the game if he is to push for a Test berth.
“It’s no real secret that my form in four-day cricket has been quite poor over the last few years,” Finch said.
“I’m not denying that for one second but I feel my game has come a long way in the last little while.
“I feel as though my technique has improved and just getting runs is the next step.
“I would love to get a spot anywhere in the Test team but I know it is still a long way away now and a lot of runs and a lot of hard work.”