InMobi

Finch sanction can't take gloss off BBL win

Melbourne Renegades skipper reprimanded for smashing plastic chair after his dismissal but heads to India today with full head of steam

Melbourne Renegades skipper Aaron Finch has been reprimanded for smashing a plastic chair with his bat in frustration after his unlucky dismissal in Sunday's KFC BBL Final.

The 32-year-old appeared to have regained some touch against the Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium in the BBL Final before he was run out on 13 backing up at the non-striker's end following a fluky deflection off Jackson Bird's boot.

As he disappeared down the tunnel, his frustrations boiled to the surface as he smashed a white plastic chair with his bat, and then giving it another whack as it bounced back at him just for good measure.

Finch vents frustrations on chair

Finch soon regained composure to join his teammates in the sideline dugout as the Renegades posted 5-145, and later captained his side to a 13-run victory after a stunning collapse by the Stars.

"It just about sums up my summer," a smiling Finch said of his desperately unlucky dismissal after the Renegades had secured victory.

"It's a tough one. You're looking to score, you're looking to rotate the strike early but it happens.

"I felt like I was hitting the ball really nicely ... just not for long enough."

Finch falls in unlucky fashion

Finch escaped a fine for the incident and was reprimanded for level 1 breach of CA's Code of Conduct for equipment abuse.

There will be little time for Finch to celebrate however after the Renegades' maiden BBL title with Australia's limited overs players to fly out today for the Qantas Tour of India for two T20s and five ODI matches.

Dropped from the Test team and out of form in the white-ball game, a candid Finch has described recent months as one of the most challenging periods of his career.

The joyous scenes that followed the 13-run win would seem just the tonic to soothe Finch's frayed nerves after a frustrating summer.

Stars collapse as Renegades snatch title

And while Finch was thrilled with the win, the 32-year-old said he didn't need it to propel him into the tour with a full head of steam.

"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," Finch said.

"If you're slightly off the mark you're going to get hurt.

"They're the best side in one-day cricket in their own conditions, I think.

"So you've got to go there full of confidence and have a real clear game plan."

Stars lose 7-19 to lose BBL title

The story looked almost certain to have a different ending for Finch and the Renegades, who were in deep trouble before the Stars capitulated, losing 7-19.

Joining Finch on the flight to India will be Stars players Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and Peter Handscomb.

Stars skipper Maxwell was left shattered by the collapse, who suggested his side would use the loss as further motivation in BBL|09.

"This will probably drive us next year and we'll use it as motivation to go one step further," Maxwell said.

"We were so close, with eight overs (to go) we probably looked like winners. To fall that short is disappointing and it's hard to take.

"I'm sure once the dust settles and we get back to next year, we'll be able to put some more performances on the board with some more squad depth."

Australia's tour of India begins with two T20s on February 24 and 27 (both starting at 12.30am AEDT the following morning) before the first 50-over match on March 2 in Hyderabad.

Qantas tour of India

First T20: February 24, Visakhapatnam

Second T20: February 27, Bengaluru

First ODI: March 2, Hyderabad

Second ODI: March 5, Nagpur

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi