Finn aiming to make his mark again (From Worcester News)

Finn aiming to make his mark again

2:21pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2011

Steven Finn is out to prove a point once more in Abu Dhabi - where he first showed himself to be an England fast bowler of the future.

Finn was an uncapped 20-year-old, in February 2010, when he took two for 25 in his four overs as England Lions beat the national seniors in a last-ball Twenty20 finish at the Zayed Stadium. And on Friday, he will be a member of the full England squad - taking on the second string for the first time since - as they prepare for the four-match one-day international series against Pakistan.

"Friday's game is going to be important for everyone, on either of the two sides," he said. "If you look at (Craig) Kieswetter and (Michael) Lumb playing against the England team over here two years ago, soon afterwards they were opening the batting in the Twenty20 World Cup. For myself, I played in that game - and less than a month later, I was playing Test cricket."

He added: "There's a great opportunity for people on both sides to push for places in every format of the game."

Finn has endured a frustrating five weeks so far in the United Arab Emirates, carrying the drinks in a Test series which saw his fellow bowlers perform well but to no avail as batting collapses saw world number ones England humbled by Pakistan.

But he senses a chance for him, and others, to prove to coach Andy Flower that they may just be the right people to take England forward here - and in the months and years to come.

Finn has 12 Test caps to date, but just one since being substituted mid-way through last winter's Ashes glory in Australia.

He returned to demonstrate his potential in an otherwise deeply-disappointing 5-0 ODI thrashing for England in India in October, which prefaced the Asian troubles so evident against Pakistan.

"Andy Flower and the management team are looking for people's attitudes; they're looking for things other than just performances - and games like this are a great opportunity for people on both sides to show everything they can give," he said.