Finn tipped to be Ashes star
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Gilchrist says Steven Finn, who took 9 for 187 against Bangladesh, should be suited to Australian conditions. (Getty Images: Christopher Lee)
Australian legend Adam Gilchrist believes young England pace bowler Steven Finn can be a big hit in the Ashes.
Finn earned rave reviews in his first home Test for England against Bangladesh at Lord's last week as he recorded match figures of 9 for 187.
The 21-year-old's pace, height and bounce have led critics to compare Finn with former England seamer Steve Harmison and even former Australia star Glenn McGrath.
Gilchrist, who will play alongside Finn for Middlesex in the domestic Twenty20 competition in England this season, has been impressed with his new team-mate's progress at Test level.
"I think the Aussies will be keeping an eye on him this summer because he will be suited to Australian conditions," Gilchrist said.
"I've only exchanged texts with him, I've not met him in person so I don't know how tall he is but from watching him on TV, anyone coming from that height and with the stature he has will benefit in Australian conditions.
"In a couple of grounds especially where there is a lot of bounce it will be a nice benefit for England to have.
"I saw him play in Bangladesh on TV when I was in India. It's a hard slog for everyone out there but the way he came out here at Lord's and got nine wickets was no surprise with the style he bowls.
"He runs in and doesn't try to do anything spectacular and often gets spectacular results. Glenn McGrath proved that's possible.
"There's a lot to happen between now and the Ashes and I hope for his sake he will be fit and in the team because if he is it will make it a bigger spectacle and a better event."
Even if Finn does fire in the Ashes, Gilchrist denies England's World Twenty20 final win over Australia will have any bearing on the series, which he believes will be a lot more evenly-fought series than England's 5-0 defeat down under in 2007.
"The win in the Twenty20 won't matter at all come the Ashes," Gilchrist said.
"There's so much time to play before the series starts. It's great if you do win. You want to get in to the habit of that, of course, because it gives you belief but come day one at Brisbane no-one will be concerned about what happened in Barbados.
"England did enough last year to win it but I predict a very evenly-fought contest this time.
"It will come down to bowling. Whoever has the fittest line-up on the park the longest will get the result."
- AFP
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