England vs Pakistan teams third Test: Steven Finn takes Ben Stokes' place for Edgbaston clash

Back in action: Finn was dropped for the Second Test but has returned to the England side
PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse2 August 2016

Steven Finn has been recalled to the England team for the Third Test against Pakistan, which starts tomorrow at Edgbaston.

The Middlesex pace bowler has been preferred to Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball and will step in for Ben Stokes, who has a calf injury.

Finn has struggled for form this summer and was dropped for the Second Test at Old Trafford, which England won last week to square the Investec Series at 1-1.

But captain Alastair Cook hinted Finn had been picked on the strength of his fine performance in last year’s Ashes Test win at this ground, when he took eight wickets in the match.

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“It was a tough call and I was awake at 2am thinking about it,” said Cook. “We’ve gone for a guy with a proven Test record and good memories here. He has not been at his best but he is now better and his pace is back up.”

Finn admitted he could not find his rhythm during the early-summer Tests against Sri Lanka but looked better when England lost to Pakistan at Lord’s, although the return from injury of Stokes and Jimmy Anderson saw him dropped for Old Trafford.

Ball made his Test debut in the game at Lord’s and has been part of the squad all summer, but his lack of pedigree means Finn has been given the nod. There will also be no place for Adil Rashid. The leg-spinner was brought into the squad for Old Trafford as England considered playing two spinners, but Moeen Ali will once again be the sole slow bowler.

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