Steve Finn impressed with The Gabba crowd

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Louise Thomas

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England fast bowler Steve Finn is getting used to many new experiences in his first Ashes series but the one that has impressed him the most so far is the size of the crowds.

"To be able to play in front of 35,000 people was exhilarating," said the 21-year-old, who took his first two Ashes wickets at a packed Gabba on the second day.

"We heard all the noise yesterday so to get out there was great.

"I'm used to playing championship cricket in front of 20 people but it's been great to play in front of so many people and to have so many people watching," he added.

"It's been fantastic and all of us are loving it."

The level-headed Finn, who had taken 32 wickets in eight Tests before arriving in Australia, said he had otherwise tried to approach the Ashes series much as he would the county matches, where the players often outnumber the crowd.

"It was important that I didn't build it up in my head too much because that would have been detrimental to my performance," he said.

"So it was important that I went back and hit my mark like I always do."

Australia will resume on 220-5 on Saturday, the third day of the first Test, in response to England's first-innings tally of 260.