Overcast May days with rain in the air and helpful green-tinged pitches are not the best conditions to judge the potential of embryonic England pace bowlers.
If the opposition are Bangladesh, who have recorded only three wins in their 68 Tests, a true assessment becomes even more difficult.
Such considerations, though, bore little weight with the spectators hurrying through the showers to watch Steven Finn go through his paces in the recent two-Test series.
The gangling, 21-year-old Middlesex fast man provided full value with nine for 187 at Lord’s and six for 81 at Old Trafford. But, with an Ashes defense in Australia looming later in the year, it was the style rather than the statistics which raised heady expectations.
One of the tallest players to represent England at 2.01m, Finn runs in with an athletic, relaxed approach allowing him to get close to 145 kph without strain.
His delivery stride brings him side-on with a high left arm and the only obvious flaw in a supple, biomechanically sound action has been a disconcerting tendency to sprawl on to the pitch after releasing the ball.
The consequent accuracy, life and lift have prompted comparisons with Glenn McGrath, who runs Dennis Lillee close as the best of the Australian pacemen, and the elongated West Indian Curtly Ambrose.
Mindful of Finn’s youth and the appalling injury toll suffered by fast bowlers from all Test nations in recent years, the England management have been quick to dampen expectations.
Finn will miss the forthcoming five-match one-day series against Australia to undergo a strength-and-conditioning program and coach Andy Flower said he did not want to make premature comparisons with McGrath.
“Comparing him to other fast bowlers, to me, is not useful,” Flower said. “He has a lovely action ... he has very good control for a 21-year-old fast bowler.”
“It is a great start for him but he also realizes that he has scope for learning and progress,” he said.
Finn’s maturity and ability to learn were evident during a promising debut in the away series against Bangladesh in March on pitches specifically designed to nullify the England fast bowlers and assist the home team’s spinners.
He has already represented Middlesex for five years after becoming the youngest debutant since Fred Titmus, who went on to represent the county in four decades. His mentor is the former Middlesex and England fast-medium bowler Angus Fraser, a past master of unrelenting accuracy, and his hero is McGrath.
“I certainly can put on more pace and it’s something I’m looking to do but I’m not going to force it,” Finn told reporters at Lord’s.
“You have to be clever and learn when to try and bowl quick. McGrath is someone I’ve always idolized, the metronomic control of line and length is something all fast bowlers strive to achieve,” he said.
“Everyone wants to combine pace with that control which McGrath had. In the early part of his career he had that pace and in the later part he needed to learn how to be smarter with the ball; the way he adapted throughout his career is something I really respect,” Finn said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and