Back in the runs, Aaron Finch admits he has one eye on the 2023 World Cup as a potential swansong but says he isn't looking past the next clash with New Zealand.
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Finch made 69 against the Black Caps as Australia cruised to a 64-run victory, for the first success of their New Zealand tour.
Australia will attempt to tie up the five-game series on Friday night in Wellington before a potential decider on Sunday.
"It was just nice to get a few runs obviously. It's been a little while," Finch said dryly, reflecting on his barren BBL spell.
The 34-year-old has been backed in by selectors and teammates to lead Australia to October's T20 World Cup in India, despite his run of outs.
Over the past week, coach Justin Langer, stand-in coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey have given their explicit support for Finch's leadership.
Finch said it may have helped "a little bit subconsciously" towards his first T20 half-century of the summer.
"It's always nice to have the support of the selectors and the coach ... just get that reassurance," he said.
"There's swings and roundabouts in our game.
"As a batter it can be bloody tough at times. I know I've done it before. I'm not a bad player.
"Now for me it's about building on that."
Locked in for the T20 World Cup in India, should it take place during the pandemic, Finch hopes that support extends to the 2022 tournament in Australia.
Would he like to play at the 2023 World Cup, at which he'd turn 37?
"Well I won't go past that, I can tell you that much," he said.
"There are two T20 World Cups coming up ... a West Indies series and then the lead-up to the India T20 World Cup.
"There's a lot of cricket and you can't afford to look too far ahead in this game.
"You can miss some opportunities or not see what is happening right now.
"Number one is to try and win tomorrow and get it to 2-2 and see how we go on Sunday.
"(The 2023 World Cup) is a distant goal but not the be all and end all."
The New Zealand series is concluding in Wellington after a COVID-19 outbreak in Auckland forced a rejig of the series.
Australian Associated Press
