Bresnan’s setback opens door for Finn to stake an early claim

Finn is determined to channel his frustrations into self-improvement to make sure he is ready when an opening arises for him to add to his 12 Test caps, only one of which was earned last year.

Yet even as he spoke before England practice yesterday, news was beginning to emerge that Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan – one of those ahead of the Middlesex seam bowler in the pecking order to feature against Pakistan in three Tests this month and next – had suffered a hiccough in his recovery from elbow surgery.

An England team spokesman was keen to stress there is no great surprise or alarm about Bresnan’s likely unavailability for tomorrow’s first warm-up match, against an International Cricket Council Associate and Affiliate XI.

Even so, the minor discomfort felt in his bowling arm by the Yorkshireman after nets increases Finn’s prospects of at least one opportunity to further his own claims on the third seamer’s place behind Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

Chris Tremlett may have something to say about that, and England have also taken the precaution of bringing Graham Onions on tour as stand-by in preparation for the first Test.

Finn, meanwhile, is simply intent on helping his cause by demonstrating whenever he can more of the potential he showed in England’s otherwise dispiriting one-day international tour of India in October.

“It is frustrating,” he said. “I want to play every game of cricket that is available for England. But I have to wait; I have to bide my time.”

When England flew home from Kolkata just over two months ago, Finn headed still further afield to play for Otago Volts in New Zealand.

He believes he has derived significant benefit from that match practice.

He said: “I’m lucky that time’s on my side – I’m only 22 years old.

“But all I can do is work as hard as I can in practice, go over to New Zealand and try and get some good rhythm over there and bring it over here.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges of the next however many months, and as long as I’m in and around the set-up and always learning off people I’m only going to get better.

“Patience is very important in cricket – batting, bowling, everything – and waiting to get into the team is another example.”

Finn impressed many with his increased pace in England’s 5-0 hammering at the hands of India, and in the Twenty20 victory which followed.

But he is not about to overstate a rate of progress which will surely soon put pressure on England’s pace incumbents.

“On a personal note, it went okay,” he said. “The ball came out nicely, but I still didn’t set the world alight.

“From a team point of view, obviously it was disappointing – which took the edge off it a little bit.”

He is more concerned with what he can do in the present and future than the hint of world class he has shown in the recent past.

“To have the opportunity now to maybe play in one of these two warm-up matches and try to push my case for that first Test would be great,” he said.

“India was a long time ago now, nearly two months ago. We have to look forward to what is happening here, and all I can control is how I bowl in practice and then how I bowl if I get an opportunity in the warm-up games.

“The great strength of this team is the fact there is such competition for places – in every department.

“Obviously, I’m probably down the pecking order at the moment. The guys who have been playing have done a fantastic job.

“I just have to wait for an opportunity, and when I get it I have to take it.

“I’ve played a fair amount of cricket in sub-continent conditions in both one-day and four- and five-day matches. I feel I have the skills that you need for it.”

Finn is hoping he can let the ball do his talking in a match at the ICC’s GCA ground in Dubai Sports City which will also see another England pace hopeful trying to catch the selectors’ eye – in the opposition ranks.

Boyd Rankin, of Ireland, Warwickshire and England Lions, has a chance to put his name in the frame.

At 27, time is pressing a little for Finn’s fellow 6ft 7in beanpole. He said: “If I can get a good performance in, I hope it will show the England coaches and captain what I can do. I hope I can get to that stage where I can be playing Test cricket for England.

“I want to play at the highest level I can. Unfortunately, I can’t play Test cricket for Ireland.

“So I want to do it for England – sooner rather than later, because I’m not getting any younger.”

New Zealander George Worker has been drafted in as Scottish Saltires’ professional player for the Clydesdale Bank 40 season.

Worker has already represented the Saltires in the competition, as deputy for the injured Luke Butterworth while playing for Stewarts Melville last season.

The 22-year-old, who featured in victories over Northants and Warwickshire, has represented New Zealand Under-19s and is closing in on 1,500 first-class runs with Canterbury.