Steven Finn ruled out of second test due to injury

Fast bowler Steven Finn has been ruled out of the second Test after failing to recover from a thigh strain that he picked up during England's opening practice game in Mumbai. 

England will also be without the services of Ian Bell for the Mumbai Test as he has returned home to be with his wife who has given birth to their first child. 

Finn was not selected for the opening Test at Ahmedabad too as he had not recovered from his injury. Skipper Alastair Cook at that time had stated that he will not risk Finn until he is 100% fit. 

Coach Andy Flower also ruled out any possibility of Finn being selected for the second Test. 


"Steven has been working hard to get back to full fitness. He has unfortunately hurt his leg again a couple of days ago, and is having another scan. We don't think he's got any structural damage, but it would be careless to suggest that he might play the second Test," Flower said. 

"What we might do is send him off to the performance programme that arrived in India earlier this morning [Tuesday]," added Flower. 

"They've got a three-day game starting on the 27 November. If he's ready for that, which is the last day of the second Test, we'll put him through his paces in that. If he comes through that well, he'll be available for the third and fourth Tests." 

Tim Bresnan had played in place of Finn in the first Test that India won in a comfortable fashion. Cook, following the loss, had said that England have to look into the team selection. "We have to look at our selection. We thought we did the right thing (by leaving Monty Panesar out). Results show we might have got it wrong." Cook had said. 

With Finn ruled out and Cook hinting at changes, Panesar in all likelihood will play in the Mumbai Test and might come in in place of either Tim Bresnan or Samit Patel. England also have the option of going in with Stuart Meaker, who was called in as cover for Finn. 

England will also be brooding over different possible replacements for Bell. While Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow are a couple of options available to them, they might also think of retaining Patel.