Steve Finn out of England's first Test against Pakistan
Monday 12 October 2015 19:50, UK
Steve Finn has been ruled out of England's first Test against Pakistan.
Captain Alastair Cook revealed on the eve of the Test Finn has a foot injury and will not be fit for the opening game in Abu Dhabi, starting on Tuesday live on Sky Sports.
Finn made a good case to play last week, taking four wickets in the second of two warm-up games against Pakistan A, but he reported discomfort in the days afterwards.
Asked about the cause of the problem - described by the England camp as a stress injury of Finn's left foot - Cook said: "Good question - I assume bowling. Yesterday and probably the day before he complained of pain in his foot.
"Yesterday he bowled pretty well in the nets and got through it, but it's obviously got worse overnight.
"It's a bitter blow for him. He bowled really well in that warm-up, and he's made huge strides in the past 12 months back towards where we want him to be.
"We'll monitor him, and hopefully he could be fit for the second Test."
Pakistan have problems of their own after leg-spinner Yasir Shah limped away from a net session on Monday with what appeared to be a back injury.
Shah has taken 61 wickets in 10 Tests and is widely seen as his side's biggest bowling threat on the traditionally sluggish pitches in the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq told a press conference a decision on Shah's fitness would be made on the morning of the Test.
“It will be a huge blow for Pakistan if Yasir misses out as they see him as the trump card. He is clearly a fine prospect and a bowler whose reputation grows by the series.”
"We're hoping he'll be fine," Misbah said. "But obviously he's a key player for us, so we're really concerned about it.
"It's a back spasm, I think. He just tried to bowl a delivery and his spikes stuck [in the turf]. He felt something in his back. Let's see how he feels overnight."
Cook said: "Of course it'd be a loss for them, but as always the day before a big series we're concentrating on matters important to us. When we get the team sheet at 9.30 in the morning we'll see whether he's playing.
"He's clearly a fantastic bowler who not many of us have faced in Test or four-day cricket, and he's obviously had a good start to his Test career."
Live Test Cricket
