Watford-born Steven Finn has ended his two-year England Test exile after replacing Mark Wood for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston which gets underway this morning.

The 26-year-old paceman's last England Test involvement also came against Australia at Trent Bridge in July 2013. He has, however, been regularly involved in the one-day side over the past 12 months.

Finn made his Test debut in 2010 and has since made 23 appearances for England in the longest form of the game. In four Tests against Australia he has snared 16 wickets.

The former Parmiter's School pupil was sent home from England's 5-0 drubbing by the Aussies down under in 2014 after being deemed 'unselectable' by Ashley Giles.

And with the series finely poised at 1-1 after two Tests, Finn makes his return to the fold in place of Durham's Wood.

Speaking on Tuesday, England captain Alastair Cook said: “We are a little concerned about Woody.

“If he is out then with the [weather] forecast, probably Steven Finn will be pushing to play. Wood has played a huge amount of cricket over the last six to eight months so we have to be careful with him. Finn has bowled really well for Middlesex and in the one-dayers recently; whoever gets the call will be the lucky one.”

The 6ft 7in Middlesex bowler was selected by England prior to the first Test in Cardiff - which England won by 169 runs - but did not feature.

And, speaking prior to the first Test, Finn said: “If I do play it will be like making another debut in some ways.

“I had a tricky period and that is a long way in the past. I’m selectable again.

“The term sounded derogatory but I don’t think it was. That was the bottom line. To be told that and come home from a series was tough to take. But I feel as though I’m stronger for that experience.”

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and the tourists elected to bat first.