Finn in India Tour squad (From Watford Observer)

Watford-born Middlesex bowler Steve Finn in England Test squad for India tour

12:10pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Sport By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Steve Finn has been named in England’s 16-man Test squad for the tour of India.

The Watford-born star, who is currently in Sri Lanka as his country seek to successfully defend their ICC World Twenty20 crown, is one of five fast bowlers to be named in the squad that will play four Tests in the near two-month tour.

The 23-year-old Middlesex bowler impressed on his last Test outing for England, claiming match figures of eight for 149 during their 51-run defeat against South Africa at Headingley.

Finn, who has taken a total of 66 Test wickets at an average of 28 in his 16 matches to date, will be up against James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Graham Onions for one of the pace bowling places.

There are also three spinners in the squad in Samit Patel, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann, while uncapped batsmen Nick Compton and Joe Root have also been included. But there is no place for Kevin Pietersen.

England are due to fly out on October 25, with new captain Alastair Cook’s men set to play three warm-up games before the first Test starts in Ahmedabad on November 15.

Squad:

Alastair Cook (captain, Essex)

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)

Ian Bell (Warwickshire)

Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Nick Compton (Somerset)

Steven Finn (Middlesex)

Graham Onions (Durham)

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)

Monty Panesar (Sussex)

Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)

Matt Prior (Sussex)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)

Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)