Aaron Finch fit for BBL but could spend time at home early in competition

Due to international duties and the IPL, the 34-year-old hasn't spent time at home since August

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Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch is fit and available for the opening weekend of the Big Bash League, but may spend some time at home early in the competition.

Finch missed Australia’s second T20I against India because of a glute strain. He played in the final match of the series and Renegades head coach Michael Klinger confirmed that he will play at the weekend.

"He's definitely going to be playing," Klinger told ESPN. "He came into Hobart last night and obviously played the last T20 game for Australia and has been passed fit. He'll have his hit out tomorrow with us leading into the game so he's ready to go and he always comes to the Renegades set up with a fantastic attitude."

Due to international duties and the IPL, the 34-year-old hasn’t spent time at home since August.

Until at least the new year, the BBL will be played in hubs. Renegades are keen to allow Finch some time off which would mean that he would miss some games.

"There may be periods where we give him time to go home," Klinger said. "We're quite lucky in our first period where we've got two blocks where we've got six-day breaks after our back-to-back games on the 12th and 13th so there may be a period there where we can get Finchy home.

_{Finch hasn't spent time at home since August}

"There are complications at the moment with Covid and how many days you can be away and then isolating before you get back into the hub here in Hobart or elsewhere. If there's an opportunity to give him some time off then we definitely will because I think it will definitely help him but also help us when comes back refreshed."

Kane Richardson will also be fresh for Renegades after spending time at home in Adelaide with his new-born child. He turned down Australia and IPL stints in order to do this before the Big Bash.

Renegades’ Afghan recruits Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmed will miss the opening two games because they are still quarantining. Their flight into Australia was cancelled because of a Covid-19 outbreak. This delayed their arrival into Australia by nine days.

South African Imran Tahir could be available for five games plus the finals if Renegades qualify. He arrives into Australia before Christmas but will have to quarantine. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Imad Wasim will join up with the squad on Boxing Day after the T20 series against New Zealand.

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