BIRMINGHAM — England has recalled fast bowler Steven Finn for the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, captain Alastair Cook said Tuesday.
Finn, who has taken 120 wickets in 33 Tests at an average of under 30 apiece, is set to replace the injured Ben Stokes.
All-rounder Stokes has been ruled out after damaging his calf in England’s 330-run win in the second Test at Old Trafford that leveled the four-match series at 1-1.
Cook said there was still a slim chance England could play two spinners, by giving a home debut to leg-break bowler Adil Rashid in support of off-spinner Moeen Ali, if there was a marked change in pitch conditions between Tuesday and Wednesday’s toss at Edgbaston.
But with rain falling from grey skies above Edgbaston Tuesday, Cook indicated that England would likely go in with an attack of four seamers plus Ali.
England also had the option of selecting Nottinghamshire quick Jake Ball, who made his Test debut in Pakistan’s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord’s — Finn’s first wicketless Test.
Finn and Ball made way for James Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, and Stokes at Old Trafford.
“Finny is coming in for Ben Stokes, and as we were,” Cook told reporters at Edgbaston Tuesday.
“Unless the pitch changes a lot from what I saw yesterday (Monday) — we still have the right to change — we’ll be going with the four seamers and one spinner,” opening batsman Cook added.
“It was a tough call — as I found out at two o’clock (0100 GMT) this morning when I was wide awake thinking about it.
“We’ve gone for a guy who’s got a proven Test record, who’s taken 120 wickets and has a knack of taking wickets,” said Cook of Finn.
Middlesex paceman Finn took a Test-best six for 79 against Australia at Edgbaston last year.
“He has good memories here of last year,” said Cook. “He hasn’t quite been at his best this year — there have been a few factors in that, (but) physically he’s now better and has had a couple of things sorted out in the last week.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan has adjusted its plans for Cook and Joe Root for third Test, the touring side’s coach Mickey Arthur has said, adding he considers the duo as the backbone of England’s batting.
Root scored 254 and an unbeaten 71 while Cook made 105 and 76 not out as Pakistan were beaten by 330 runs on the fourth day of the second test at Old Trafford last week to level the four-match series at 1-1.
“We had a look at Cook and Root again,” Arthur told British media. “We analysed our plans. We see them as a fundamental to England’s batting.
“If we can get into them with the new ball we’ve got a real good chance.”
While Root and Cook have been in prime form with the bat, Alex Hales, James Vince and Gary Balance have failed to shine for the hosts, who lost the opening test at Lord’s.
“They are all quality players,” Arthur added. “But they clearly know that when they walk out they are playing for their test places, so that provides another level of pressure.
“I’m not discounting Hales, but clearly Cook and Root are the beacon of England’s batting at the moment.”
Arthur is desperate to see a greater return from his top-order batsmen.
“I was really disappointed with our performance at Old Trafford — really disappointed,” said Arthur.
“There are credible losses, and there are losses when you lie down and are steamrollered ... Old Trafford was clearly that.
“I told the guys I thought we were warriors at Lord’s. We were completely the opposite at Old Trafford.”
Masood has become something of a ‘bunny’ for Anderson.
He has fallen six times for just 15 runs in 57 balls to Lancashire paceman Anderson dating back to last year in the UAE.
Pakistan could promote number three Azhar Ali to open and bring Sami Aslam, yet to feature this series, into the side in place of Masood.
