Steven Finn chats to ecb.co.uk about his aims over the rest of the Ashes series
Steven Finn is desperate to play in the iconic Boxing Day Test having missed out three years ago.
The pace bowler has not yet featured in this year’s Ashes but, with England 3-0 behind having already relinquished the little urn, he is hoping for a chance.
During England’s last trip Down Under, Finn featured in the opening three matches before being overlooked at Melbourne and Sydney.
And the opportunity to play at the MCG, where over 90,000 people are expected to turn out on the first day, is one he would relish.
“It would be great to step out at the MCG,” Finn told ecb.co.uk. “I have never done it before having missed out last time in the Test and one-day series.
“To play on an occasion like that would be fantastic and something that I would really cherish.
"Realistically, I need to put my hand up in the nets this week, bowl quick and accurate, and that is something I am trying to do.
“It is just going to be a case of me bowling as well as I can in the nets and trying to catch someone’s eye.”
Fast bowler Finn, however, knows earning a spot in England’s bowling line-up is no easy task.
Indeed, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have two spots locked down and the emergence of Ben Stokes, who struck a fine 120 at the WACA, as a genuine all-rounder has ensured competition is even more fierce among England’s seam options.
He admitted: “Being a fast bowler, you realise you’re going to miss out unless you get to the standards of someone like Jimmy or Broady, you’re going to miss out every now and again.
“It has been a disappointing Test tour so far but I still have three weeks of it to try and make it better.”