England's main strike bowler James Anderson and Steve Finn are fit to play in the crucial fourth Ashes Test against Australia, captain Andrew Strauss said on Saturday. Anderson had been troubled by a side strain but bowled at close to full pace in the MCG nets on Friday and Saturday and was given the all-clear by Strauss to play in the Melbourne Test.
"He had a bit of a niggle but he seems to have got over that," Strauss told a news conference on Saturday. "He's 100 percent fit and available for selection." Finn showed signs of fatigue as Australia claimed a series-levelling win in last week's third Perth Test. But Strauss has backed the 21-year-old quick to handle the demands of Sunday's five-day MCG Test.
"'Finny' has done some really good things on this tour, taken quite a few wickets," Strauss said. "He was probably a bit expensive in Perth (2-86 off 15 overs and 3-97 off 21). "But he's young and he's learning and I think he's going to keep getting better.