Captain Alastair Cook has all but confirmed fast bowler Steven Finn's inclusion in England's playing XI for the third Test against India, which gets underway in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Finn, ruled out of the opening fixtures of the four-match affair by a thigh injury, has since recovered - and is likely to replace fellow right-armer and vice-captain Stuart Broad.

Broad's form has been of an off-colour nature this tour, with the lanky fast bowler yet to take a wicket, proving fruitless in the warmup match against Mumbai A and expensive in the Ahmedabad and Mumbai Tests.

Hampered by a viral illness prior to the second fixture and nursing a bruised heel, Broad will probably be rested for the clash at Eden Gardens, where Finn is expected to gain selection ahead of all-rounder Tim Bresnan or swing bowler Graham Onions.

"On Steven's injury, it's great he's now fully fit. He adds competition to the squad, he's a fine bowler and it's great to have him available for selection. It's disappointing he has missed two games but it's great that he's back and we've got some tough selection meetings ahead of us," said Cook.

"But as a captain and as a coach, that's what you want. You want people pushing for places. Finn has got a little bit more pace than the other guys and he bowled well here on the sub-continent."

Opening batsman Nick Compton, meanwhile, is looking forward to picking up where he left off at the Wankhede Stadium. Compton, the retired Andrew Strauss' replacement at the top of the order for the foreseeable future, scored a brisk 30 not out in England's second innings - largely dominating India's much-vaunted spin attack.

"Finding a balance is what it's all about. I think that's very important. "I'm learning that as we've gone on. Letting the spinners bowl is one thing but also putting some pressure on them is very important," Compton told Sky Sports News.

"I feel the first and second innings do differ, slightly. The first innings, as an opening batsman, is to set the game up and make sure we get a solid start for the team so I definitely have that in mind."