Finn needs second MOTM display to have England Test spot chance

Steven Finn produced a man-of-the-match performance to ensure England claimed victory in their one-day series with Australia with a match to spare and it may take another in this contest at Old Trafford to give him any chance of making the Test team against South Africa.

Finn took 4-37 as England won by eight wickets at Chester-le-Street to move into an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

However, by no means is the final game a dead rubber, even though England will have to wait another series to potentially take over as number one in the one-day world rankings.

Australia captain Michael Clarke is desperate to return home with a victory of some note, while England will want a record tenth straight one-day success to keep confidence high ahead of the Test series with South Africa later this month.

Meanwhile, the likes of Finn and Ravi Bopara in particular will want to use the game as a final opportunity to display their Test credentials as they look for a place in the Test team.

Finn has been a lynchpin in the one-day bowling attack throughout 2012, but has struggled to dislodge James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan from the pace attack in the Test arena.

But another wicket-taking performance against Australia may convince the selectors that he is just bowling too well to leave out and may put pressure on them to replace Bresnan or go with five bowlers.

England are having some difficulties filling their final batting slot, with Bopara, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow all failing to take their opportunities to cement their place.

Bopara has had a solid series against Australia with the bat and a century at Old Trafford may be enough to see him regain his place.

England’s odds are 4/5 to win the final one-day meeting of the series with Australia and 2/1 to claim victory in the first Test with South Africa, which begins on July 19th.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.