Steven Finn took 2-50 including the key wicket of Hashim Amla
Friday 15 January 2016 13:42, UK
Nasser Hussain says Steven Finn produced his best spell of bowling in an England shirt when taking the wicket of Hashim Amla on day one of the third Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Amla edged behind a perfectly pitched-up ball from Finn during a vital four-over burst before tea with England's attack having struggled to find the right length up to that point.
Finn finished the day with figures of 2-50, adding the scalp of Faf du Plessis, as England reduced South Africa to 267-7 by stumps.
"That was his best spell of bowling in an England shirt," said Hussain. "In that little spell between lunch and tea he was absolutely magnificent.
"He had pace, bounce, the right length and movement. Everything was absolutely perfect from Finn.
"England generally bowled a little but short. Maybe it's because they have come from Cape Town and the ball did absolutely nothing there, so they dragged their length back, but they have to try to get that ball fuller here.
"Fast bowlers hate being driven, Jimmy Anderson in particular hates going for boundaries. At times, for a man with 427 Test wickets, he doesn't quite risk it like a Sir Ian Botham, and pitch the ball up looking for that magic delivery.
"Both sides will leave today thinking 'what if'. For England it will be what if they bowled better in that first session? Could they have bowled South Africa out by now?
"For South Africa, it will be what if they didn't have so many soft dismissals? How many batsmen were dismissed by magical deliveries today? Not many at all, just Amla, who fell to the ball of the day.
"The groundsman has to take a lot of credit, because he has produced a pitch with a bit of pace, and a little bit of sideways movement. It gets you exciting cricket, with both sides wondering whether to bat or bowl, like at the toss this morning.
"The groundsman said before the game that 350 is around par, and I think he has got it spot on, although the South African commentators are saying 300 is a good score.
"It is if you've got Dale Steyn. That's what they're judging it by, in previous games here they've had Steyn and Morne Morkel.
"Instead they've got Morkel, a lad on debut [Hardus Viljoen], a lad with one Test match [Chris Morris], and one with four [Kagiso Rabada].
"That is a bit of a drop off, so I would say it has been slightly England's day as South Africa haven't got much batting to come, just Morkel, and Viljoen.
"This game comes down to a fragile England top order, a batting line-up known for collapses, against an inexperienced attack on a spicy pitch. It will be exiting to watch."
Our live blog of day two begins at 7.45am, with live coverage kicking in at 8am on Sky Sports 2.
