ENGLAND paceman Steven Finn has not recovered from a thigh strain in time for Thursday’s first Test with India in Ahmedabad.
Finn tested his thigh strain last weekend but will now not be risked having missed Tuesday’s net practice.
England captain Alastair Cook confirmed on Wednesday that the bowler would not be ready in time.
Stuart Broad, who recently sustained a bruised heel, was able to bowl at full speed in Tuesday’s session.
The vice-captain practised as scheduled, bowling six overs off his full run in two spells.
“Broady’s pretty good, he always says he only needs 10 overs before a Test so we’ll see, he’s recovered well, the heel’s feeling well so I’m certain he’ll be ready and raring to go, “England wicketkeeper Matt Prior told BBC Sport.
Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan is the most likely replacement for Finn, who was injured in the opening match of the tour against India A at the end of last month.
Bresnan is England’s leading wicket-taker on the tour thus far, with nine wickets from the two first-class matches.
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Stuart Meaker and Graham Onions are other options to join James Anderson in the seam bowling ranks.
Surrey’s Meaker was called into the squad as cover and was the more successful of the two in the final warm-up match against Haryana, taking 3-74 in the first innings and 1-19 in the second, while Onions was wicketless in the first innings and took 1-34 in the second.
Prior, who has recovered from a debilitating sickness bug suffered during the match against Haryana, said of the first part of the Indian tour, which comprises four Tests and two Twenty20 internationals
England: A Cook (capt), N Compton, J Root, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, E Morgan, M Prior (wk), J Bairstow, S Patel, G Swann, M Panesar, J Anderson, T Bresnan, S Broad, S Finn, G Onions, S Meaker.
India: M Dhoni (capt, wk), V Sehwag, G Gambhir, C Pujara, S Tendulkar, V Kohli, Y Singh, A Rahane, R Ashwin, P Ojha, H Singh, Z Khan, U Yadav, ISharma, M Vijay. — BBC Sport
