Cricket: Otago look to learn from Finn stint

Boost: Steven Finn. Photo / Getty Images

Two metres of 150km/h-plus English fast bowler Steven Finn will give the Otago Volts - already blessed with Black Cap-in-waiting Neil Wagner - a feisty attack this cricket season.

Even though the 22-year-old Finn is here for only four games, Otago coach Vaughn Johnson says his influence will extend beyond those four games.

The Middlesex paceman is the youngest player to reach 50 test wickets for England - and will be available for a month of Plunket Shield action as he looks to gain match sharpness ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan. The Volts hope to profit from his expertise on and off the field.

"It is great to have a player of Steven's calibre joining the ranks, it has helped the rest of the guys spark up, and they are all excited about his arrival," said Johnson, a former fast bowling coach for New Zealand Cricket. "Obviously, some bowlers will be thinking their place in the team is under threat but you have to look at the bigger picture. It is not only on the field that we want performances from him; it is off the field."

Finn arrives in Dunedin fresh from an impressive bowling spell in India, filling Johnson with confidence that he can pass on his skills with the ball to the current Otago attack. Finn had a best of six wickets for 125 during last year's Ashes victory.

"If he is bowling at over 150km/h, as he was in India, then I am sure he will be a great asset for the squad and a fantastic example for our quicks. We want him to help our bowlers, both tactically and physically, as well as talking to the team and sharing his opinions and ideas.

"You only have to look at Steven to know he is a good player. He has a big bounce and bowls a heavy ball. He gives good balance and pace up front. Our bowlers can learn a lot from him.

"His presence alone will also help the maturing of the young fast bowlers immensely. We have two or three promising young quicks in Otago that we believe through natural progression can play first-class cricket soon. It would be invaluable to get Steven's professional opinion on their development," he said.

"Whether that is him passing on the way he trains, his mental processes and the like - we are eager to hear anything that will be beneficial for our players."

The paceman leaves Dunedin on December 4 before joining up with the England squad in the United Arab Emirates for a seriesof three tests, four ODIs and three T20 games over two months.

"We did not actively seek Steven, the player and his agent made him available. There has been a lot of good work done from Otago cricket to do a deal which is not costing a huge amount of money and is good for both parties," said Johnson.

Finn will play 16 days of cricket during his month here.