India v England: Steven Finn presses his case to replace Stuart Broad for third Test in Calcutta

[rkt.india]

Finn bowled four hostile spells, taking four for 50 off 16 overs which included five maidens, for the England Performance Programme against the DY Patil Academy XI in Navi Mumbai. Finn missed the first two Tests against India with a thigh strain but if he does not suffer a relapse over the next few days he will almost certainly replace Broad for the Calcutta Test, which starts on Dec 5. David Saker, the England bowling coach, said Finn is a ÅÔpecial talent and has the pace we probably need for this place. WeÃÅ like to get him in the team? He added: Ūf he can get through that game thereÃÔ no doubt heÃÃl come into the selection picture. We donÃÕ want what the wicket is going to be like in Calcutta but with his pace and the bounce over here he can bring the stumps into play often. It would have been an interesting call if heÃÅ been fit here. Simon Kerrigan, the Lancashire left-arm spinner, also took four wickets, a timely performance with the possibility England may add another spinner to their full tour squad to cover in case of injury to Monty Panesar or Graeme Swann. FinnÃÔ pace and bounce brought him success here last year during a one-day tour when he topped the bowling averages with eight wickets at 31.62. But his Test development has been delayed by a series of injuries and a failure to take his one-day form over the past year into the Test side. Saker has at least corrected his habit of knocking over the off stump during his follow through, which dogged him last summer. The pitch at Eden Gardens may have a little more zip than Mumbai but is still likely to turn although there was reverse swing at the ground last year when England played a Twenty20 international. Broad has cut a disconsolate figure over the past two weeks. After the first Test he hit out at former players on Twitter, becoming embroiled in a spat with Sir Ian Botham. Broad has also suffered from injury (sore heel) and illness on the trip and he is a bowler who has battled inconsistency in the past. He was outstanding on the flat pitches of the United Arab Emirates earlier this year, taking 13 wickets at 20.46, but bowled only 12 overs in the Mumbai Test and was not called upon at all by Alastair Cook after the first day of the match. Å©eÃÔ learning the hard way at the moment and itÃÔ probably not going the way heÃÅ like it to go, said Saker. Å©eÃÔ had a little bit of a break, he needs to front up and find out whatÃÔ the best way to go about it over here. If he comes back to this part of the world, which he has a good chance of doing, heÃÔ got to find ways of surviving. It can become easy for quick bowlers to lament their lot on Indian pitches and blame the conditions for their struggles but, as Saker pointed out, pace men have prospered in the past. BroadÃÔ hero, Glenn McGrath, took 33 wickets at 21.30 and Courtney Walsh, a bowler in the Broad mould, was even better with 43 wickets at 18.55. ŵhe great fast bowlers have had success here so you donÃÕ just say the fast bowlers are going to have no influence a defeatist attitude like that is not accepted, he said. Å´o weÃ×e got to have a look at the way bowlers have done it over here and try your best at replicating that. England will on Thursday announce their squad for the two Twenty20 matches which follow the Test series with Matt Prior a possible replacement for Craig Kieswetter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/9705732/India-v-England-Steven-Finn-presses-his-case-to-replace-Stuart-Broad-for-third-Test-in-Calcutta.html

[indiaregulator]

Courtney Walsh, a bowler in the Broad mould

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: