http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harold-William-Stephenson-c61707 Finn - ‘Finns’ of steel - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
Then came a fiery spell of fast bowling that could have moved even the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shaun-Maclean-Pollock-c89847. The subcontinent giants were bamboozled as Finn picked up four quick wickets and tore through the fragile top order. The hosts were eventually
bowled out for just 130 and Finn was the culprit. Howwever, the worse was to come for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in the second ODI, as a below par 250 posted in the first innings gave Pakistan an upper advantage. Finn then went about his business, by bagging another four wickets
which denied the home side a due victory. In this case http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 fell short by just 20 runs, and Finn was again the perpetrator of their demise.
His performances in the UAE are also significant in light of the fact that the wickets at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imtiaz-Sheikh-c64290 Zayed International Stadium and the DSC Stadium in Dubai are not tailor made for his style of bowling. Yet those performances at least reaffirmed that Finn
was made for ODI cricket and should become a regular player in their lineup. The scars that he left on oppositions came in the form of a disgruntled http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, which had to bear the brunt of his immaculate line and length in the UK. His ability to extract
significant bounce and pace in that series and the one against Australia proved to be a deciding factor in comprehensive victories for his team.
The only real test of Steve Finn would be whether or not his bowling prowess in recent times could materialize in the subcontinent, where placid pitches with plenty of turn are not conducive to fast bowlers. His reputation as a genuine match winner could
be stymied if he proves to be less than ordinary in places such as India and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465 who have immense talent and outperformed in places such as England, New
Zealand and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the winter, Finn could well and truly prove a point by addressing the assumed limitations of his repertoire. It is hard to dislike him, as he is an original in the
true essence.
Statistics do favor Finn and the justification that he should be in the side. He currently averages 24 with the ball in the 22 games that he has played for England. With a tally of 38 wickets and a few match winning performances up his belt, one could argue
that Finn’s reputation as England’s trump card in ODI cricket is a touch misleading. Yet what acts in his favor, is the fact that he averages just 16 with the ball with 23 ODI wickets in 2012, boasting a strike rate miles ahead of any other bowler in contemporary
times. Most of his match winning accolades have also come against formidable opponents in times when England needed a defining spell. He has seldom disappointed and came to the call of duty.
The clash against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 would thus be a test of Steven Finn’s ability. Another magnificent series would reassert his status as England’s most important ODI player in recent times. For now, one can sit pretty with the claim that this English ODI line
up well and truly has ‘Finns of Steel’.
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