Cricket: Pace bowler Finn ready to make full use of English rotation policy

Paceman Steven Finn is determined to prove the benefits of England’s rotation policy.

After spending the majority of his young career on the fringes of the England set-up, Finn has been the major beneficiary of the selectors’ desire to rest their star names in the past month.

The 23-year-old was drafted in for the final Test of the already-won Investec series against West Indies at Edgbaston and, with England again in an unassailable position in the one-dayers, he is set to be given a more prominent role in today’s third and final game at Headingley. With Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan being given time to put their feet up, Finn is set to lead an otherwise inexperienced attack alongside Jimmy Anderson.

“Having those two other senior players missing gives me an opportunity to be an even more senior player within the group,” he said. “It’s an exciting experience. Yes, pressure comes with that but pressure is something I enjoy.”

As one of the main beneficiaries of the much-debated rotation policy – which has provided call-ups for young seamers Stuart Meaker and Chris Woakes in Leeds – it is understandable that Finn is an advocate of it. While detractors debate that the paying public are being short-changed by under-strength teams, Finn believes the policy is not only logical in a busy schedule but also an investment in the future of English cricket.

“The more exposure we get at an early age the better we are going to be in the future,” he said. “We’ve got young players coming through who need to gain international experience at international level, me one of those included.” Persistent rain in Leeds meant that both sets of players were forced to train indoors while the covers remained on the Headingley wicket. While the forecast for today is equally gloomy, should play begin there could be some early assistance for the likes of Finn, who admitted he had already considered the prospect. “If it dries up it is going to be perfect for seam bowling.”

l Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt was released from prison yesterday after serving seven months of a two-and-a-half year term for involvement in a spot-fixing scam. His solicitors confirmed the 27-year-old had been freed from Canterbury prison. “He can now return to his beloved homeland, start to rebuild his reputation and begin the long process in his efforts to return back to top-level cricket,” the solicitors said in a statement.