Finn’s habit has deprived him of wickets in the past
England have been dealt major blows in the past after umpires have ruled pace bowler Steven Finn’s deliveries as dead balls when he disturbs the stumps at the non-strikers end with his legs, and Middlesex director of cricket Angus Fraser believes it is time for Finn to correct the mistake in order to avoid future situations where batsmen are given a reprieve due to his unorthodox quirk.
Fraser, who was also a former England seamer and Finn’s mentor, is concerned that Finn’s habit is costing him wickets at the international level.
Most recently Finn collided into the stumps during the fourth ODI against India and batsman Suresh Raina was given not out by umpire Steve Davis after edging the delivery to the slips.
During England’s home series against South Africa last summer, Finn was deprived of the wicket of Proteas captain Graeme Smith during the second Test in Headingley after the South African skipper complained to the umpire that Finn’s constant disturbance of the stumps was extremely distracting.
Finn has recently made some small changes to his bowling, which include a shorter run-up and delivering the ball further away from the stumps, and Fraser believes these minor tweaks will be Finn’s saving grace in the future.
“With his height, pace and bounce he could achieve anything and I would be surprised if he is not opening the bowling for England against Australia home and away – it is a problem that will reduce his effectiveness and which he needs to correct,” Fraser told the Cricket Paper. “Taking away all the fuss and drama of him missing out on those wickets, I’m just as concerned about what makes him collide with the stumps and the effect it has on his bowling.
“When Steven hits the stumps at his end, it is because he is jumping at an angle into them in his delivery. Then to avoid running on the pitch he has to jump out to compensate.
“It will only take minor changes to correct, and time getting used to putting the feet and body in a slightly different position, but it is something he needs to work at and correct if he wants to become the complete package.
“I used to hit the stumps with my bowling hand occasionally and it hurt. Ian Botham booted all three out once, I’m told, and Mark Ealham used to flick a bail out of its groove and catch it as he went past without breaking stride. But the kink in Steve’s delivery appears more acute.”