South Africa A vs England: Hostile Steve Finn’s four-wicket haul puts him in Test frame

The identity of the fourth man in England’s fast bowling quartet became a little clearer yesterday. It is yet to be officially confirmed – the toss before the opening Test begins on Saturday may be soon enough – but the team management’s discussions are likely to be less meandering than they looked like being a week ago.

The coaches will have been delighted with the way that Steve Finn bowled after rejoining the squad following his startling recovery from the stress fracture to his left foot that curtailed his presence on the tour of the UAE two months ago.

Finn was accurate, quick and hostile on the first day against South Africa A, achieving the awkward bounce which can instil doubts into the minds of the most accomplished batsmen. His reward was four wickets, three of them in nine balls in a particularly searing spell from the Hewlett End immediately after lunch. It was highly controlled stuff, which was, in its way, more welcome than the wickets it brought.

If this might have made one selection conundrum less complicated, the batting of Alex Hales was also encouraging after South Africa A were bowled out for 136. Hales started nervously but managed to stay at the crease for 87 minutes before bad light ended play 18 overs early.

He has already been virtually guaranteed his Test debut in Durban but a difficult proposition would hardly be eased by going in with no sort of form. That prospect has not been entirely eradicated by scoring 28 from 57 balls but it is both a beginning and a relief.

Finn was extremely pleased to have come through this examination of his fitness with such vim and vigour. He was omitted from the original squad because of his injury and, as he revealed after play, was not exactly delighted.

“I was disappointed to be left out of the squad in the first place because I know my body and thought I had a very good chance to be fit for the Boxing Day Test match,” he said. “But the selectors obviously didn’t think that. I had to accept that and it made me work doubly hard.

“It was nice to get out there and get some overs under my belt. I’d like to think I’m ready for a Test match but it depends how I pull up over the next day or so because I haven’t spent this long on my feet for the last two and a half months.”

Finn was added to the squad last week when he came through two Twenty20 matches for England Lions, also in the UAE, without mishap. The claims to a place in the Test team of Chris Woakes will not be lightly dismissed but Finn is a known quantity who made a significant contribution to England’s Ashes triumph.

Woakes, who bowled with authority in the first warm-up match last week in Potchefstroom, was denied the opportunity to press his claims further. Finn needed overs in the middle, Stuart Broad decided that he, too, was still short of bowling and the management wanted to have another look at Mark Footitt.

While Footitt is probably the fastest bowler in the squad, it is difficult to think he will be discussed for the opening match of the series. Were either Jimmy Anderson, rested again yesterday, or Broad to break down (heaven forfend), he would probably enter the reckoning.

The first day of a match against nominally strong opponents went as well as England could have expected. Footitt struck with the new ball before Broad had Rilee Rossouw, who is in South Africa’s Test squad, caught behind.

Finn took a wicket with his third ball when Quinton de Kock played a loose drive, perhaps deceived by the bounce, and edged to third slip. After lunch, Finn moved into top gear quickly. He had Omphile Ramela caught at point, Khaya Zondo caught at slip and Dane Vilas lbw. It was highly impressive work.

There is no reason to think the stress fracture will recur. It seems to have been caused by a sore big toenail, which meant he was transferring his weight. Perversely, the rest might have done him good.

“I did a lot of upper body and trunk strength work before building up my rehab with Watford, which I’m very grateful for, and at the moment everything is falling into place,” he said. “Sometimes these things happen for a reason and to have seven or eight weeks of not using certain parts of my body that I use for bowling was a break I’ve not had for five or six years.”

Only Stephen Cook provided any resistance for South Africa A, playing patiently, persuading the bowlers to come at him and carrying his bat for the third time in his career. He, too, was impressed by Finn.

“He bowled really nicely,” said Cook. “He’s got that height, which is an added bonus for him. He hit good areas, did a little bit with the ball, especially during that third spell. I know he’s come into this trying to regain fitness but he looked pretty fit from how I faced him today.”

Hales was suitably inspired. There was one worrying moment when he was hit on the left thumb by Marchant de Lange but after a few minutes’ treatment he continued, growing in fluency.