CRICKET Australia could have had a potential disaster on its hands last night, when Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch went within a metre of being singed by a flame-thrower at Adelaide Oval.

Finch has called on organisers to take greater care over player safety, after he was left shaken by a boundary-riding pyrotechnic effect firing off unexpectedly when he was beside it picking up a ball.

Thrashed: Aussies outclassed by South Africa

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media_camera Aussie cricket captain Aaron Finch getting a little too close to the Adelaide Oval flamethrower. Picture: Cricket.com.au

As part of the game-day entertainment at Twenty20 matches, CA often feature the flame-throwers which shoot flames when boundaries are hit or wickets are taken.

When Finch went to the fence to retrieve a ball early during South Africa’s successful run chase, he deliberately waited back for the flames to go up.

However, when they didn’t he leaned forward to pick up the ball only for the colourful explosion to send him reeling backwards in distress.

The heat from the devices can be felt from rows back, so the temperature must have been searing for Finch being so close.

David Hussey had a similar experience during a Big Bash game two years ago when a pyrotechnic went off unexpectedly near him at the same ground, an incident Finch referenced as he called for better safety measures.

“I think it might have been last year or the year before when Dave Hussey almost got his head blown off,” Finch said.

“Probably a bit more care has to be taken towards the players and anyone who is nearby.”

Hussey laughed that the Adelaide incident “was probably the most embarrassing moment of my life’’, but agreed that fireworks operators needed to be conscious of cricketers getting close to the explosives.

“Mate that was scary, I won’t lie to you,’’ Hussey said. “A firework went off and fire went up so I was pretty nervous for a while there.

“A little bit of common sense wouldn’t go astray.

“If people are around those flames, don’t put them up. If people are around, go easy on them.’’

Finch was completely uninjured, but the consequences could have been devastating.

The skipper said the issue was a serious one that needed to be addressed.

“I’ve seen it happen a couple of times. It shocked me quite a bit because I stood up waiting for them to go off and they didn’t. And it wasn’t until I started to walk in,” Finch said post-match.

“I stood off waiting for them to go off and when they didn’t I thought they must have pulled the pin on them for that time. And then bang, it was a shock I can tell you.

“It gave me a bit of a fright. I’m sure it could be quite dangerous.

“Dave Hussey nearly got his head blown off by them as well didn’t he? So probably a bit more care needs to be taken towards the players and anyone who is nearby.”

Cricket Australia responded to Finch’s concerns this morning.

“We have apologised to Aaron for the incident last night,” said a CA spokesperson. “We have clear operating procedures in place for the use of pyrotechnics at matches. They include strict rules about safe operating distances with respect to players and fans. Clearly there was a breach of that (last night) which we take very seriously and have addressed with the contractor concerned.”

Australia were comprehensively outplayed by the Proteas who cruised to a seven-run victory with an over to spare in the first of three T20 internationals.

Finch is hopeful Glenn Maxwell and possibly even David Warner will be late inclusions for the remainder of the series, despite only returning from the Test tour of the UAE yesterday.

“If he (Maxwell) is available, that’d be great. I’m not sure the extent if he’s available or Warner,” he said.

One shining light in Australia’s average first-innings batting performance where they reached 6-144, was a classy 47 off 36 from Shane Watson.

The Australian star hadn’t played international cricket in seven months, after being ruled out of the past two overseas tours with ankle and calf complaints respectively.

Watson fell when his side desperately needed him to see out the innings, however Finch praised the No.3 for a powerful performance which points to a big summer ahead.

The Australian Test side may have some vacancies at the top of the batting order, and Watson is set for a recall if his form stays strong throughout the coming one-day series against the Proteas.

““I thought for a guy coming back for only his second or third hit in quite a long lay-off, he was outstanding,” Finch said.

“He hit the ball in the middle of the bat and played the way we know he can play. He took the game on and I think we’ve seen in this format of the game and one-day cricket and test cricket at times he’s just so dangerous at times and damaging.

“It was just unlucky we didn’t have anyone through that middle part that could go with him and take it to the opposition.”

- with Warwick Green

Originally published as Flame-thrower almost fries Finch