***Official*** Pakistan and England in UAE

[Prince EWS]

yeah, well lucky I didn't say crap then. Buttler should obviously play all forms for England anyway.

My point being IF KP Cook or whomever from the current ODI/Test set-up are better at 20/20 than the youngsters they should play, and not be rested. Particularly not molly-coddled batsmen. It's not like we play that many.

Yeah, fair enough.

 

[Arachnodouche]

I think Steven Finn is on his way to becoming one of the top three bowlers in world cricket. How do England find a regular spot for him in Tests though? Once Bresnan comes back, and England return to familiar climes, they'll be back to fielding a three pronged pace attack with Swann as spinner. I'd rather see Finn in place of Bresnan, and the batters taking some extra responsibility. Seems too good a bowler to be twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Steven Finn is like one of the West Indian quicks, who couldn't make the team because there wasn't a place for him.

 

[wpdavid]

In fact, the India 2008 tour aside, I can't actually remember the last time where we lost both legs of a tour. Possibly Pakistan 2005?

Yeah, you're right. Lost the onedayers 3-2.

 

[Furball]

I think Steven Finn is on his way to becoming one of the top three bowlers in world cricket. How do England find a regular spot for him in Tests though? Once Bresnan comes back, and England return to familiar climes, they'll be back to fielding a three pronged pace attack with Swann as spinner. I'd rather see Finn in place of Bresnan, and the batters taking some extra responsibility. Seems too good a bowler to be twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines.

Bresnan's a better Test bowler than Finn, so no.

 

[Jacknife]

As much as your right, I'm really looking forward to the English summer to see the continuing development of Finn. Bresnan's proved a better Test bowler so far but I wonder how long we'll be saying that because Finn's sure looking the real deal, even though he's shown it in one day cricket, you can see the big improvements he's made.

 

[Furball]

As much as your right, I'm really looking forward to the English summer to see the continuing development of Finn. Bresnan's proved a better Test bowler so far but I wonder how long we'll be saying that because Finn's sure looking the real deal, even though he's shown it in one day cricket, you can see the big improvements he's made.

Then let him continue to make those improvements in ODIs. We've been crying out for a gun ODI bowler for years.

There's no room in the Test side for him, so he needs to just keep putting up great numbers in FC cricket and continue his improvement in the ODI side.

 

[Jacknife]

Then let him continue to make those improvements in ODIs. We've been crying out for a gun ODI bowler for years.

There's no room in the Test side for him, so he needs to just keep putting up great numbers in FC cricket and continue his improvement in the ODI side.

The way players get injured he'll find himself in there and like I said I'm genuinely interested to see how he goes if given a chance. At the end of the day, England have got a busy year of test cricket and there will be no doubt changes whether that's forced or rotation, so he'll get a gig sooner or later.

 

[slowfinger]

England's infrastructure is second to none- glad I'm a part of it, It's so tough.

 

[Pothas]

The way players get injured he'll find himself in there and like I said I'm genuinely interested to see how he goes if given a chance. At the end of the day, England have got a busy year of test cricket and there will be no doubt changes whether that's forced or rotation, so he'll get a gig sooner or later.

Exactly right, there is pretty much always someone injured, is important that we have the squad. I have no doubt that the guy is going to be seriously good though.

I fear for Tremlett again though, him coming into the side and doing so well was my favourite thing about the ashes because I thought it was never going to happen but it may be all too brief.

 

[CWB304]

Bresnan's a better Test bowler than Finn, so no.

No he's not. Finn is clearly the more effective bowler now; the fact that he's proving it in ODIs and has not had the opportunity in Tests for over a year is neither here nor there.

Even before gaining a yard of pace and improving generally over the past year his Test figures were very good: he clearly knew how to grab wickets pretty cheaply at a good strike rate even as a raw prospect.

Post-improvement, one can only surmise that his figures would get even better, which considering where he is now means low 20s. England haven't had a bowler in that ballpark for a long time, and, despite Bresnan's excellent record, I don't see him being the one to change that in the long term.

Finn on the other hand has a deadly combination of sheer pace combined with accuracy, bounce and just enough movement both ways. If Bresnan is picked ahead of him going forward it will be to provide batting balance and not because he is regarded as the better bowler. If Broad can step it up and become a genuine seven then I'm afraid Bresnan's Test opportunities might be severely straitened - and I'm a big fan.

 

[Woodster]

I don't see any good reason to leave Bresnan out for Finn at the moment. Bresnan has done nothing wrong at all in Test cricket, he has been effective on most pitches, can bow to a plan, reverse the ball, bowls a sharp and accurate bouncer, think he gives Flower and Strauss exactly the kind of control that they are looking for to execute the plans they are utilising. His fielding is decent and his excellent contributions with the bat are a big bonus.

Steve Finn has impressed in ODI cricket of late, yet I'm surprised by the apparent urgency to get him into the Test side. Bowling several spells a day is a huge difference to ODI's when you know you're bowling 10 overs maximum. His pace looks good and when he gets his chance I hope he's used in bursts and allowed to bowl flat out and trouble batsmen with his pace and improving accuracy. His game does look to have progressed but I'm not sure his ODI performances and his County performances are enough for him to take Bresnan's spot.

 

[Pothas]

Can actually agree with a lot of CWB is saying there but I am loath to underestimate Timmy ever again, am sure Finn will play at some point this summer though.

 

[Jono]

I am a massive Finn fan, love the bloke. But there is no basis to say Finn is better than Bresnan right now other than gut feel based on ODIs since August/September last year.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Drop Swann play the 4 at Headingley against the Saffers. Or better drop whichever muppet is a 6 at the time of that and play the 5. Unless the 6 is Collingwood.

As good as Finn is I think he needs another season or two before he really comes into his own as a bowler.

More to the point is the implication that Bresnan's the slowest bowler going, he was hitting 90 often enough against the Aussies and doing it consistently add that to his batting and well Finn's going to struggle for a place in the test XI if we keep playing 4 bowlers.

Much as I like Finn as a bowler I wish he were a few years younger so then we'd see more of him consistently in a few years as Anderson starts to go because for all his excellent fitness Anderson's action isn't one of those easy physical economy ones.

Strauss
Cook
Trott
KP
Bell
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Finn + Anderson at 10/11.

 

[Jacknife]

I am a massive Finn fan, love the bloke. But there is no basis to say Finn is better than Bresnan right now other than gut feel based on ODIs since August/September last year.

Agree, I'm on the Finn train but there is nothing to suggest Finn's a better test match bowler than Bresnan atm, just because Finn has done well in one day cricket doesn't mean a whole lot when it comes to test cricket, completely different kettle of fish.

Finn got a chance last year when Anderson was out against SL and bowled poorly, when everyone thought that his improvements would be on show.

What's not to love about Bresnan though, the guy bowls high 80's, swings it accurately and reverse swings the old ball and averages 23, oh yes he averages over 45 with the bat to boot and England haven't lost a game with him playing.

Finn will one day take his pace in the side but it won't be until Bresnan either loses form or Finn gets a chance through injury and becomes too good to drop back to the bench. There's no rush for him though, not with the attack we've got but I'm sure looking forward to see what he can do this next year.

 

[Jacknife]

More to the point is the implication that Bresnan's the slowest bowler going, he was hitting 90 often enough against the Aussies and doing it consistently add that to his batting and well Finn's going to struggle for a place in the test XI if we keep playing 4 bowlers.
.

Yes, he's the fastest bowler on show for England when he plays, faster than Broad and Tremlett.

 

[Howe_zat]

Faster than Tremlett, but not Broad. They're both typically 88-90.

 

[Jacknife]

Faster than Tremlett, but not Broad. They're both typically 88-90.

Broad seems to have dropped his pace a bit in tests to me, he used to be regularly around 90mph but against India and Pakistan it was normally 83-85mph, it seems to have done him the world of good.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Its a mark of the ludicrous talent England have in the bowling stocks that a guy averaging 23 with the ball and 45 with the bat is having his place in the team debated Must be a lovely problem to have.

In the early 90's if those numbers were reversed he prob still would have made it into the team as a good honest allrounder.