Finn's unrewarded efforts
Steven Finn could be left wondering who he had offended as he remained wicketless
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Jul-2016
Chris Woakes claimed England's bowling headlines at Lord's with an eleven-wicket match haul, but in the second innings Steven Finn could be left wondering who he had offended as he remained wicketless - the first time in a Test he has not claimed a single scalp. The expecation is, with James Anderson and Ben Stokes set to return, that his place is under threat but, writing for the Guardian website, Mike Selvey is convinced things are close to clicking for him.
He is, to my eyes, running in well, his action is holding up, and his pace is good, hitting the bat hard. In the first innings, he conceded four runs per over which may seem profligate but in fact is only half a point above his Test match career economy rate of 3.57. He bowled one particularly energetic spell from around the wicket, thrashing it into an unresponsive pitch and gaining nothing in return. But pitching it up and swinging it is not his game. I thought it a worthy piece of bowling.