Finn cuts through text controversy to edge Test

Friday 17 August 2012

Steven Finn believes that England showed the strength of their character after recovering from a troubled week to edge the opening day of the crucial third Investec Test against South Africa.

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The host's preparations for the Lord's Test, which they must win to level the series and avoid losing their world No.1 spot, had been overshadowed by the row involving Kevin Pietersen and his text messages.

Finn proved the controversy was far from their minds, though, when he took three morning-session wickets, as South Africa were reduced to 54 for four. A half-century from JP Duminy, and further late-order runs from Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn, hauled South Africa back into the match before bad light forced an early close with the tourists 262 for seven."We're 11 guys who just want to go out and play," said Finn, when asked about this week's controversy. "After Monday everything was swept under the carpet. We've got through tough times together, we've done that well in the past and showed that again."We bowled well. We bowled in partnerships well today. They aren't away from us – they only scored at three an over. It would have been nice [to bowl South Africa out] but it is good that we stuck to our guns. No-one got away from us and when the sun is out here it's a good place to bat."Finn took his three wickets in the space of seven balls before lunch. The right-armer removed Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla before the third umpire controversially ruled that Jacques Kallis had gloved behind down the leg-side.It left the tourists reeling before Duminy's resistance, and some wayward bowling from Finn, evened the match. "I maybe got a bit greedy at times which is why I went at four and over," he said."But I'm in the team to take wickets. They batted well in the sunny periods. We knew when we needed to take our opportunities and other times play attritional cricket."Hopefully it will be overcast in the morning and we'll get the three wickets early and then the sun will come out. We will have to bowl well in the morning."Duminy hinted that South Africa were aggrieved by the decision to put Kallis out, but insisted his side were more focused on trying to lift their total beyond 300. "That's the nature of game. Sometimes you win some, sometimes lose some," he said. "You just have to get over it. We're pretty positive in the way we want to play our cricket. It [300] is probably something we'll aim towards. Hopefully we get more than that."After reaching 61 Duminy fell to the second new ball when he swiped at a wide delivery from Jimmy Anderson. "I thought I had done well until then," he said.

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Finn cuts through text controversy to edge Test

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