Finn ruled out of England's first Test against Pakistan due to injury

Sport360 staff 13:19 12/10/2015
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  • Injured: Steven Finn.

    England fast bowler Steven Finn has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan through injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced.

    The 26-year-old is suffering from a stress injury to his left foot and will play no part in the opening match in Abu Dhabi, which begins on Tuesday.

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    Finn first felt pain in his foot after bowling in England's second warm-up match against Pakistan A in Sharjah four days ago – but was able to take a full part in nets in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

    England captain Alastair Cook said: "It's a bitter blow for him. He bowled really well in that warm-up game, and over the last 12 months he's made huge strides back to where we'd like him to be.

    "We'll monitor him, and hope he could be right for the second Test.

    "But we'll have to wait and see."

    Cook also confirmed Finn was very much in contention to face Pakistan in the first match of the series, after impressing with figures of four for 16 against the second string.

    "Absolutely, he was," he added. "His performance in that warm-up game was good.

    "After the warm-up game, he complained of a pain in his foot … (then) yesterday he bowled pretty well in the nets, and got through.

    "But obviously it's got worse."

    Key Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah, meanwhile, may be fit after all for the hosts.

    Yasir looked in a bad way, after stumbling in practice on Monday morning as he tried to pick up the ball.

    He then had to be helped away from the nets, walking very gingerly.

    Within an hour, though, Pakistan were reportedly more optimistic that Yasir may recover in time – and are expected to make a late call on his readiness on Tuesday morning.

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