Steven Finn hailed James Anderson as “one of the greatest if not the greatest England bowler” on the day the pair’s nine wickets skittled India for 153 as Eoin Morgan’s side sealed a bonus-point win.
Tall paceman Finn, back to his best a year on from having to leave England’s previous tour of Australia, exploited a typically bouncy Gabba pitch to take 5-33 while Anderson, returning from a knee problem, mopped up the tail for miserly figures of 4-18.
Thanks for all the messages re today's game. It's great to contribute to a win. Lads were awesome today. On to the next one at Hobart!
— Steven Finn (@finnysteve) January 20, 2015
It was Finn’s first five-for in his 49 one-day internationals, a rare feat for any bowler given Anderson has just two in his 185 format games.
Anderson is comfortably England’s top wicket-taker in ODIs – his 261 is 27 more than next-best Darren Gough – and in Tests the seamer is just three scalps behind Sir Ian Botham, whose 383 is the leading mark.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk about Anderson, Finn said:“He’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest, England bowler there’s been, and it’s always a pleasure bowling with him.
“You can feed off him, tap into his knowledge, his experience, and that really helps. And for him to come back in his first game back and get 4-18 is a great effort.”
Finn is rejuvenated from a year ago when he lost confidence in his action and did not play a competitive match on the Ashes and limited-overs trip to Australia.
The 25-year-old, introduced in the 13th over, had Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu caught in back-to-back sets of six.
Returning in the batting powerplay, he consecutively snared Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Akshar Patel to improve on his three four-wicket hauls in ODIs.
“I was happy with how it came out,” Finn said initially of today’s display.
“I felt as though I was in good rhythm in the Australia game the other day and didn’t get any wickets.
“And it’s funny how one-day international cricket happens, you know. Today just happened to be my day and the edges went to hand, and that’s the way it goes.
“I’m happy with where I am at the moment. There’s obviously areas to improve, but it’s all moving in the right direction.”
As India had struggled on a sporting surface, England’s target was no formality.
Yet, with Moeen Ali gone before the official break, Ian Bell and James Taylor calmly shared an unbroken 126 to complete a nine-wicket triumph in 27.3 overs.
It was particularly satisfying for both batsmen given they made ducks in the Tri-Series opener with Australia, in which the hosts earned a bonus-point victory.
On Bell and Taylor, who scored 88 and 56 respectively, Finn added: “They both played exceptionally there.
“It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on, and for Belly and Titch to come out and play the shots that they played there and to play with the fluency that they did, it’s testament to the amount of work that they’ve both put in off the field.”