Big Bash: Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch is ready for the first game of the season

After limping through the T20 World Championship as Australia claim a historic victory, Captain Aaron Finch has suspended all races as he prepares for a first Big Bash match of the season this week. Finch announced that he pushed through the rehab process after knee surgery in September to make sure he could lead Australia at the World Cup, knowing it could catch up with him after that.

He did, and has not played since that triumph in Dubai on November 14, and missed the Melbourne Renegades' first three games as they attempt to spin two consecutive last places in the Big Bash. But Finch, 35, is finally ready to get dressed, and while he hasn't run much to prepare, he's preparing to "hit a lot of balls" before Wednesday to make sure he can start with the required bang .

"We pushed really hard to come back for it (World Cup) and it was a risk that was worth it but it probably just took a little more time," Finch said on Monday. “From the end of the World Cup until now, it has been a good, solid rehab month that has helped.

“I will hit a lot of balls in the next few days and I feel good at the moment. "The skill acquisition part is something that I don't think requires much (attention) - at 35 I think there's a decent base to fall back on." Finch resigned captaincy to Nic Maddinson after nine seasons, but the Renegades are still on familiar territory, most recently with a three-game win on the BBL table.

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Without his veteran colleague Shaun Marsh, who is expected again after Christmas after a knee injury, the pop line-up is very inexperienced. Mackenzie Harvey (146) is the only Renegades batsman with more than 100 runs in the first three games, almost twice as good as the next best Sam Harper (78).

"The last few games, second in the field, a bit of inexperience probably creates a bit of chaos at times," said Finch. Fast bowler James Pattinson (general sore muscles) also has a chance to return from his injury on Wednesday night to strengthen his team in the showdown with the undefeated Perth Scorchers.