England v Pakistan: Steven Finn recalled in place of Ben Stokes at Edgbaston
Thursday 4 August 2016 20:43, UK
Steven Finn will replace the injured Ben Stokes for England's third Investec Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, starting on Wednesday live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 10am.
The Middlesex seamer was left out of Alastair Cook's side for the second Test at Old Trafford, partly due to the return of Stokes after a knee injury.
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However, after Stokes sustained a calf injury during Pakistan's second innings in Manchester, Finn returns having been given the nod over Jake Ball and will make his 34th Test appearance.
The series is currently level at 1-1, with England responding to defeat in the first Test at Lord's with a comprehensive 330-run win at Old Trafford.
"It was a tough call, as I found out at 2am this morning when I was wide awake thinking about it," said Cook. "We've gone for a guy who has got a proven Test record. He's taken 120 wickets and has a knack of picking up wickets.
"He has good memories of here from last year, he hasn't quite been at his best this year and there are a few factors in that.
"Physically he's now better, with a couple of things sorted out in the last week. I think we all saw the other day at Middlesex, playing Essex, that his pace was back up again.
"You could have argued for Jake and telling him was tough, but we've gone for a guy who's got a very good Test record and we're giving him another go."
While they have been forced into a change in the bowling department, England are otherwise unchanged and have stuck with the same group of batsmen despite their middle order struggles continuing in the second Test.
"There are [points to prove] and it hasn't changed yet," admitted Cook. "I think throughout my time as a captain there has always been something up for discussion and at the moment the middle order are up for it.
"Until the guys get good scores consistently, they will be [under pressure]. But they're very good players, they got picked either because of outstanding form for their counties or Gary [Ballance], he's got a very good Test record and I think he's looked pretty good coming back, without getting a big score.
"They're good players and they have another chance to show that this week."
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, meanwhile, was rather more tight-lipped when it came to the tourists' selection for Edgbaston.
"We are sure about who will be playing - absolutely no doubt - but I don't want to let the other team know," he said. "Keep guessing! We are clear in our thinking, and we know what we are going to do."
However, Misbah insisted that whoever is in the side, Pakistan will be fired up after receiving some stern words from coach Mickey Arthur following their defeat at Old Trafford.
"I think his anger is appropriate," he added. "The players are also unhappy that, after an outstanding performance, you were nowhere in the next game. We need to really improve.
"But you have to give credit to the opposition that they played so outstandingly that it put you out of the match."
Watch the third Test between England and Pakistan from Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am on Wednesday. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
