Australian ODI captain Aaron Finch has revealed the pressure of playing multiple formats of cricket at the top level.
Finch played Test cricket, ODIs and T20 international series for Australia this summer, and was criticised particularly at Test level for a lack of runs.
The Melbourne Renegades skipper admits the jam-packed schedule did get to him.
“Probably the last six months has been the most difficult of my career in terms of chopping and changing formats, making my test debut and playing a bit more test cricket was probably a bit of a mental challenge more than anything,” Finch told SEN Breakfast.
“To play in Dubai and come straight back into an ODI and T20 series and test matches and things like that, it’s probably been the longest sustained period that I’ve played cricket for Australia.
“In terms of that, it was quite mentally challenging and something that I probably didn’t give the guys who played all three formats of the game enough credit in.
“That’s been difficult and on the back of not making enough runs myself, that makes it even more of a challenge.
“At times, you find yourself combing through a few papers and seeing some negative stuff so it does wear you down a little bit but at the same time, it’s been amazing.
“I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Finch believes in the future, players will be able to pull back a bit from the game if they need to, rather than the coaches and medical staff dictating whether they do or don’t play.
“I think going forward there will be times where players say look, you can pick me if you like,” he said.
“Your heart’s still in it, your head’s still in it but you’re physically and mentally five per cent off or 10 per cent off.
“In international cricket, that’s a long way from where the opposition are at a lot of the time so I think you will see that in terms of guys just being really honest and saying look, I can play, but my heart won’t be in it or you’re not going to get the best result out of me and I think that the way that the game’s going, people are more understanding of that.
“I think going back a few years there would be a lot of people who would look sideways at that and say you’re giving up your spot in the Australian side but I think it’s going to be crucial down the track.”
Finch will lead Australia’s ODI side in the upcoming Tour of India, which kicks off on February 24.