CA apologise for firework incident

Aaron Finch receives an apology after a close call with an artificial

 flame thrower

Cricket Australia has apologised to T20 captain Aaron Finch after he had a close call

 with an artificial flame-thrower during the series-opening loss to South Africa last night.

Finch was shocked when a burst of coloured flames were deployed just as he went to

 pick up ball from over the Adelaide Oval boundary line.

"We have apologised to Aaron for the incident last night," a Cricket Australia spokesman

 said.

"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."

Finch had deliberately stalled collecting the ball, knowing the flames were shot to herald

 boundaries in Australia's seven-wicket loss to the Proteas.

But when the flames initially weren't fired, he went to pick up the ball.

"I sort of stood off, waiting for them to go off," he said.

 

"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.

 

"I'm sure it could be quite dangerous."

 

Finch said his ex-Australian T20 teammate David Hussey also suffered a similar 

scare at Adelaide Oval.

"I think it might have been last year or the year before when Dave Hussey almost

 got his head blown off," he said.

"Probably a bit more care has to be taken towards the players and anyone who is

 nearby."

The incident came as South Africa effortlessly chased Australia's 6-144,

 winning

 with seven wickets and an over to spare.

Finch said Australia failed to post a competitive total and support Shane Watson,

 who top-scored with 47 in his first international match since April.

Finch hailed the sparkling performance of Watson, who had been sidelined by ankle

 and calf injuries.

"He was outstanding," he said.

 

"He hit the ball in the middle of the bat, played the way that we know he can play -

 took the game on.

"And we have seen in this format of the game and in one-day cricket, and Test cricket 

at times, he is just so dangerous and so damaging.

"It was just unlucky that we didn't have somebody through that middle part (of the innings) 

that could go with him and take it to the opposition."

The Australians and South Africans travel to Melbourne on Thursday, ahead of Friday's

 second encounter in the three-match series.