Finn promises to return stronger after latest setback

Steven Finn has admitted enduring the most frustrating period of his career after a hamstring injury ruled him out of the one-day series against Pakistan.

Finn has been sidelined for four weeks after tearing his hamstring during Pakistan's brief second-innings chase at The Oval. While he hopes to play again for Middlesex before the end of the season - in what could be a County Championship winning campaign - it caps a difficult period for him where his standing in the England side has slipped.

"This has been the most frustrating nine months of my career so far. But, will come out the other side of this latest setback stronger for it," Finn tweeted following confirmation of his latest layoff.

Finn flew home from last year's tour of the UAE to face Pakistan with a foot injury before returning to be the most consistent of England's quicks at the start of the Test series against South Africa. However, his troublesome 2016 then took hold when he picked up a side strain in the Johannesburg Test and, during his recovery from that, suffered a calf injury which, much to Finn's frustration, ruled him out of the World T20.

Finn made his belief that he was fit for the World T20 known, which led to a mild ticking off from the England management, and head coach Trevor Bayliss encouraged him to channel those frustrations into success in the middle at the start of the home season.

However, Finn was short of his best in the Test series against Sri Lanka, although he managed seven wickets at 28.14, before not playing a part in the following one-day series.

Against Pakistan, he endured his first wicketless Test in the opening match at Lord's and was omitted at Old Trafford. He returned at Edgbaston and in the second innings made a crucial contribution with the wickets of Misbah-ul-Haq and Sami Aslam during England's victory push. At The Oval, though, he finished with 3 for 110 to end the series with five wickets at 70.40 - plus a torn a hamstring.

Finn's place in the one-day squad has gone to Durham's Mark Wood after his successful return from injury.