Cricket Australia has apologised to national T20 captain Aaron Finch after he went close to being burnt in a sideline pyrotechnics mishap.

Finch was shocked when he came within a metre of a burst of flame fired from a flamethrower as he went to fetch the ball just over the Adelaide Oval boundary line during his team’s loss to South Africa on Wednesday night.

He initially hesitated to pick up the ball knowing that flames were shot into the air following every boundary.

When he saw nothing coming from the flame thrower, he assumed it safe to approach and pick up the ball, only for a flame to be shot into the air as he neared.

“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.”

After the seven-wicket loss to the Proteas, Finch called for more care to be taken with boundary line pyrotechnics. David Hussey had a similar close shave at the Adelaide Oval several years ago.

“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.”