Finn ruled out of Abu Dhabi with foot injury
England will be without fast bowler Steve Finn for the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, after he was ruled out of the game with a stress fracture in his left foot, the day before the match.
Finn had been in line to play the series opener after an impressive effort against Pakistan A in the warm up in Sharjah, but now Mark Wood will keep his place as the third seamer.
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."
Asked if Finn was a definite contender to take Wood's place, Cook added: "Absolutely, he was. "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."
Cook then said he hoped Finn would be ready for the second Test, in Dubai on 22 October.
Latest
-
NewsTom Westley and Essex have their sights set on Royal London Cup silverware
Essex, who won the domestic Twenty20 competition in 2019, have only two players in The Hundred.
-
NewsMatt Parkinson stars at Manchester Originals have Birmingham Phoenix in a spin
The England leg spinner’s four for nine set up the victory for Jos Buttler’s side.
-
NewsHaseeb Hameed hundred helps Nottinghamshire defeat Warwickshire
Essex and Lancashire remain perfect in Group Two after two games.
-
NewsHundred organisers hit out at ‘unacceptable’ abuse
Players have been targeted since the launch of cricket’s new format.
-
NewsJoe Root admits friendship will be set aside against Ben Stokes in The Hundred
The England pair face off with Trent Rockers and Northern Superchargers on Monday.
-
NewsLocal hero Jonny Bairstow stuns Headingley with impressive Welsh Fire knock
Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow, captaining the Fire, hit 56 from 36 balls in The Hundred clash.
-
News‘He’s a fantastic asset’ – Joe Root excited to see Rashid Khan in Hundred action
The England Test captain and Afghanistan leg-spinner are team-mates at Trent Rockets.
-
News5 things we learned from the opening games of The Hundred
The near 8,000 who turned up for night one represented the biggest ever UK crowd for a women’s match.
-
NewsFirst-pick Rashid Khan proud to be flying flag for Afghanistan in The Hundred
The leg-spinner is excited about the prospect of bowling 10 balls in a row when he turns out for Trent Rockets.
-
NewsAdil Rashid looking forward to coming up against Jonny Bairstow in The Hundred
When they face off on Saturday the Yorkshire and England team-mates will be on opposite sides for the first time.