Finn impresses in word and deed

Steve Finn
12 April 2012

England face an age-old selection decision in the Old Trafford Test over the balance between specialist bowlers and batsmen.

Coach Andy Flower is encouraged, though, by the personnel he has at his disposal - even in the injury-enforced absence of Tim Bresnan and the prescription of an 'intensive strengthening' sabbatical for Stuart Broad. The remaining pace-bowling options - behind James Anderson and Lord's man of the match Steve Finn - are Bresnan's replacement Ryan Sidebottom and the still uncapped Ajmal Shahzad.

Twenty-one-year-old Finn impressed the coach as much with what he said as what he did in the eight-wicket first npower Test victory over Bangladesh at Lord's. Flower said: "I thought he spoke very well at the post-match press conference - which indicates a man with a very level head,"

He added: "It also indicates that nine wickets in this Test did not go to his head - he did not get carried away with it."

Finn is just three Tests into his international career, as he prepares to try to help England wrap up the two-match series which resumes in Manchester on Friday.

Yet he has been touted already as a near certain inclusion in the squad which will be picked in four months' time to travel to Australia for the Ashes.

Flower is hardly the type to fuel that sort of hype.

"I think he realises he has a lot of hard work to do and that this is only the start," he said.

"That mirrors the team's realisation that we have a lot of hard work to do. We are a long way from the finished article, and this Test match showed that.

"I still think we are capable of some really good performances in the future, but there is a long way to go."

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