By Chris Stocks in Pietermaritzburg/The Guardian
Steven Finn is a surprise contender for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Durban after impressing England’s coaches in the nets since joining the squad last Monday.
The Middlesex fast bowler was understood to be out of contention for the opening match of the series when he was added to the touring party earlier this week, with the second of the four Tests, starting in Cape Town on January 2, his initial target.
Finn impressed in two Twenty20 matches for the England Lions in the United Arab Emirates last week, but was thought to be short of match fitness since recovering from the bone-stress injury that had ruled him out of the recent Test series against Pakistan in the Emirates.
England, though, have revised their opinion after the 26-year-old appeared close to full pace in the nets this week in Potchefstroom, where the tourists drew their opening tour game against a South Africa Invitational XI.
It means Finn is set to be given an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in England’s Test XI when the final three-day warm-up match against South Africa A starts in Pietermaritzburg.
Ottis Gibson, England’s bowling coach, said of Finn: “The understanding is that once he has made it here he is added to the squad and therefore if he proves in the next couple of days that he is ready, my understanding is that everybody is available for selection.
“He has been excellent. He has obviously done a lot of work in the UAE and the guys over there who looked after him did a great job getting him up to speed. He hasn’t played a game but given the facilities here he has done a lot of good stuff in the nets and put himself right in the frame.”
England are set to rest Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson for the Pietermaritzburg match despite the fact they bowled only 11 overs between them in Potchefstroom.
With just two days between the Durban and Cape Town Tests, it is understood England are keen to preserve the energy of their two main strike bowlers.
Anderson, in particular, is having his workload managed carefully by the head coach Trevor Bayliss, who is aware that with 426 Test wickets to his name the 33-year-old needs little actual match preparation to be ready for Boxing Day.
“He has probably earned that over his career, the amount of overs he has bowled for England and the wickets he has taken,” said Gibson. “The stage he is at in his career you treat him slightly different to someone who’s just coming in, he’s a very experienced senior pro and he knows exactly what he needs to get himself ready for a Test match nowadays.”
The absence of Anderson and Broad means England are likely to name a seam attack of Finn, Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes against South Africa A.
All three will be competing for the one final place in England’s attack alongside Anderson and Broad, and the all-rounder Ben Stokes, for the first Test.
“It’s healthy for the side, selectors and head coach to have three quality bowlers competing for one spot,” said Gibson. “It will be a tough decision come Christmas Day and it will be my job to make sure they are all ready and in a great place to do the job.”
Mark Footitt is now out of contention after the 30-year-old left-arm fast bowler produced an erratic performance in his first senior England appearance in Potchefstroom.
Finn strengthens Test credentials with 4 wkts
Yesterday, Finn bowled himself into contention for a return to England’s line-up after taking four wickets on the opening day of their last warm-up game before they begin the Test series against South Africa on Boxing Day. Finn was only drafted into the squad last week, but underlined his credentials against South Africa A by taking four wickets for 34 runs at the City Oval.
England bowled out their opponents for 136 runs and scored 64 without reply before bad light curtailed the game and stumps were drawn. Finn's showing will have increased his chances of joining James Anderson and Stuart Broad in a three-pronged seam attack for the first Test in Durban.
Ben Stokes, who is also making his way back from injury, took three wickets. England will resume on Monday with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 36 and Alex Hales on 28.
