Photo Credit: ICC
Former New Zealand Under 19 captain and Otago Volts allrounder Josh Finnie announced his retirement from representative Domestic cricket at the end of the season.
The lithe 27-year-old right-hander finishes with 18 first-class Plunket Shield caps, 49 Ford Trophy and 65 Dream11 Super Smash appearances for the Otago Volts, encapsulated in an eight-season career.
Finnie is Otago born and bred, and as a talent-packed teenager he had starred for Otago Boys’ High before making the NZ U19 squad for the first time in 2013/14.
He was the New Zealand team captain the following season in Bangladesh at the 2016 ICC Men’s Under 19 World Cup, and played 11 youth one-dayers for his country in all, across three seasons.
Meanwhile, he had already burst onto the Domestic scene in all three formats in 2014/15.
His powerful and lavish striking ability in the white-ball game made him a great asset to the Volts in the T20 format in particular, and he was quick in the field and a handy off-spinner.
In first-class cricket, Finnie had a knack of chipping in with a half century in his sprinking of appearances, but he was brutally unlucky not to get a maiden century in his third season – when he was trapped on a career-best 98 by the Stags’ Doug Bracewell at University of Otago Oval.
He played across five seasons of Plunket Shield cricket in all, but decided to formally retire from the red-ball format in 2020, with white-ball cricket always having been his first true love where he could express himself more freely.
In List A one-dayers, Finnie scored 984 runs for the Volts, with a top score of 73 not out among his six half tons.
In the T20 format, he finishes with 722 runs including a career best unbeaten 71* and best bowling of 4-11.
Off the field, Finnie is as talented with a camera as he is with a cricket bat, having made a name for himself with his side hustle of drone photography landcapes and seascapes which he sells professionally.
Whilst retirement at 27 may sound premature, this was a player who always had a balance and options in his life.
Finnie said he would always be grateful for his experience in cricket with the Otago Volts.
“I have had a fantastic time, and been very lucky to pursue my love of cricket to the professional level. I leave satisfied that I gave it my all.
“I’ll retain wonderful memories of my time in cricket, and of the many coaches and players that I have had the pleasure of playing with over these last eight seasons.
“I leave with no regrets, and wish Otago Cricket and the Volts all the very best”.
OCA Chief Executive Mike Coggan reflected fondly on Finnie’s contribution to Otago.
“Josh is a very talented player who always possessed immense hand-eye coordination and athleticism,” noted Coggan.
“He is a wonderful young man who has given his all to the Otago Volts and Otago Cricket, and he should be proud of his achievements”.
Finnie is joining his partner Hannah in their plans to now travel and experience life outside of New Zealand.
