Finn back for England to face Pakistan

LONDON // Steven Finn and Mohammad Aamer, two of the most exciting young fast bowlers in world cricket, will get the chance to go head-to-head this week after Finn was named in England's 12-man squad for the first Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Finn, the towering 21-year-old paceman, is back in the England reckoning after missing the one-day matches against Bangladesh and Australia to undergo some strength and conditioning work following his man-of-the-series exploits in the Test series against Bangladesh.

He took successive five-wicket hauls and was subsequently awarded a increment contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Finn comes into the match in buoyant mood after bowling with hostility for Middlesex in the English County Championship game against Sussex at the weekend. His duel with Aamer will be fascinating. The 18-year-old left-armer, likened to Wasim Akram, the Pakistan bowling great, took seven wickets in the morale-boosting win over Australia at the weekend and will pose a huge threat to England in swinging conditions.

Eoin Morgan, who retained his place in the squad, will have to counter the threat of Aamer if he is to convince the selectors he should be the reserve batsman on the Ashes tour to Australia later this year. He has been given another chance to shine in the longer format as Ian Bell is out after breaking a bone in his foot in the recent one-day series against Bangladesh. Stuart Broad, the fast bowler, and Paul Collingwood, the middle-order batsman, have been recalled.

* Agencies