The Ashes 2013: Five talking-points from Day 1 at Trent Bridge

Ed Cowan of Australia is caught off the bowling of Steven Finn of England during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

3. Finn with the new ball.

Finn got a blessing in disguise when he received the new ball from his captain as Stuart Broad was off-the-field due to a blow on the shoulder he suffered during the course of his courageous little innings.

Finn is not a bowler who derives a lot of swing but he relies on his high release point, and hits the deck to get some movement of the pitch. He is thus usually the first change bowler but he really turned the day around for England. Australia would have been really happy at the close of the English innings as they defied their critics to the word.

Finn dismissed the dangerous Shane Watson with a full delivery that tempted an expansive drive though Watson’s nerves played a significant role. He soon found himself on a hat-trick after he dismissed Ed Cowan with yet another full delivery that swung a tad bit. He was rather unlucky not to have dismissed Michael Clarke on the very first ball as he bowled an unplayable delivery.

He was definitely England’s player of the day especially given that some believed that he should not even have been there on the pitch.