Seamer backs his Middlesex teammate to thrive as England seek to complete their Test trophy cabinet
Finn backs embattled Compton
England fast bowler Steve Finn has backed embattled batsman Nick Compton to seize his latest opportunity to cement a spot in the England XI when the team faces Sri Lanka next week.
Compton had been at risk of losing his place however following the shock enforced retirement of James Taylor the selectors opted not to disrupt the team that beat South Africa away last Christmas any more than necessary.
Compton has had a rough start to the county season, but Finn backed his Middlesex teammate to thrive when England march out at Headingley on May 19.
"I think Compo as a guy is a lot more level than the last time he was in the England team and that is an excellent thing," said Finn.
"Having been a teammate of his, I've not seen a difference or dip in him over the last few weeks even though there has been speculation. I think ultimately the right decision has been made.
"He batted at three in a successful tour against the No.1 Test team in the world in their own conditions and averaged 30 which I don't think is a disgrace there.
"He played for the team a lot in that series, he set up the beginning of innings to allow the guys who bat 4, 5, 6, 7 to come in and play in the aggressive manner they did.
"Even though he has not made a stack of runs in the championship, when he has batted he has looked good and he's been a bit unlucky a couple of times."
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Finn will be making a comeback of his own having missed the final Test against South Africa in January with a side injury.
Fellow fast bowler Stuart Broad said the side was highly motivated to avenge for their series defeat during Sri Lanka's 2014 tour that left James Anderson in tears.
"A great motivator for us as a team is that we hold seven out of nine (series) trophies and Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the two we don't have," said Broad.
"Having played in 2014 that was a tough time to play, it was an emotional series and it really hurt us as a team to lose in our home conditions.
"Whenever we play Sri Lanka they play with a lot of pride and passion and they are always in the fight and in the battle and they beat us in that battle last time so there is revenge to be had to make sure we use our conditions better than we did then.
"I know the team are keen to get those trophies because it would be some achievement."
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Meanwhile, James Vince – who has been compared to former England captain Michael Vaughan – said his Test call-up had yet to sink in.
"It's something I've been aiming for since I was a little kid really," said Vince. "Definitely when I was growing up, playing for England in a Test was the number one.
"I've had the experience of the T20s in Dubai against Pakistan, when it was a good feeling being able to contribute to the team.
"Being in the World T20 squad was a great experience as well although obviously I would have liked to have played more of a part.
"Since then I've turned my attention to Hampshire and trying to have a good start to the season. It's only the last week when I started to notice stuff in the press.
But to get the call, it took a while to sink in."
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Vince was one of two uncapped players added to the England squad this week, along with fast bowler Jake Ball, and Broad sees much of himself in the fellow Nottinghamshire seamer.
"Jake is a player I've seen a lot of and he's developed so quickly," said Broad.
"He is similar to me in height and what he tries to do with the ball. He gets good pace, moves the ball both away and into the right-hander, and away from the left-handers.
"The selectors have done well to pick a guy in form. We're friends and I can talk him through things, but the way he's bowling at the minute, I would just let him go.
"The quickest way to learn is through your own experience. In international cricket you have got to learn quickly and those that last do that.
"Discussions and learning comes when we go to India (later this year), where he's never played. But right now I won't be going to him too much because he just needs to stay in the great rhythm he's in.
"I don't want to be the man to disrupt that."