Finn says 'working hard' in nets to lose 'Ashes also-ran' tag

England fast bowler Steven Finn has said that he is working hard in the nets to improve his consistency and prove that he is not an Ashes 'also-ran'.

Finn, who was dropped after Trent Bridge in July and played no further part home or away, made changes to both his run-up and angle of attack after repeatedly knocking over the stumps in his delivery stride late last year although the tweaks sent his form spiralling downwards in Australia, suggesting he was not even a realistic candidate for selection.

However, the Daily Express reports that Finn said he has not given up hope of featuring in the remaining two Tests, adding that although working through those issues has been a difficult process but hard work in the nets has brought him to a point where he senses a corner ahead.

Stating that he is confident of turning things around and quickly enough for the Boxing Day Test, Finn also said that he has not written off the final two Tests by any stretch of his imagination, adding that he would be running and bowling hard in the three practice sessions before the fourth Test to put his hand up for selection.

However, Finn conceded the roots of his inconsistency were in the technical changes he brought into his game, with the report saying that the decision to shorten his run-up was abandoned after it impacted on his pace, while a wider angle of attack has similarly affected his wrist position and rhythm - crucial for fast bowlers.