Alastair Cook hopes for better performance from Finn

With Ben Stokes out due to an unprecedented injury, England has recalled one of their old warriors in the form of Steven Finn. England skipper Alastair Cook, however, has thrust his hopes on the fact that Steven Finn would rise up to the occasion. With England handed a 75-run defeat at Lord’s in the opening Test, the desperation of the England camp saw many a head roll as sweeping changes saw the likes of James Anderson and Ben Stokes making a return to the side. However, a subsequent injury to Stokes has now seen Finn brought back into the scheme of things. What is impressive, however, is the fact that 27-year old Finn has managed to edge out Lord’s debutant Jake Ball.

Speaking in the pre-match presser, Alastair Cook underlined that Finn cared deeply about playing for England and also did not want to let anyone down. “Not to worry too much about it. He sometimes can worry too much about it. He cares deeply about playing for England and doesn’t want to let anyone down.”

In spite of Finn’s incredible record in Test matches, his recent form saw him left out of the side. Opening batsman Cook added: “He’s a huge talent. On his day, he bowls spells which are incredible to be standing at first slip for, as he did against Australia here [last year].

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“So [I’ll] try and tell him to relax and play. That doesn’t always happen. But sometimes, when you’re dropped, it’s a bit of a moment for you as a player.” Cook also hopes to see a reaction from a player understandably disappointed at being dropped. “He obviously missed out on the last Test, and that will have hurt him. Telling him he wasn’t playing, you saw that disappointment and hunger almost straightaway. Telling him he was playing today, you saw that glint in his eye.”

Ball had his moments on debut at Lord’s and Cook said deciding the identity of England’s fourth seamer had been difficult. “It was a tough call, as I found at two o’clock [0100GMT] this morning when I was wide awake thinking about it. But we’ve gone for a guy with a proven Test record, who has a knack of picking up wickets and good memories from last year. He hasn’t quite been at his best this year, and there are a few factors in that, but physically that’s now better.”

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