Steven Finn declares himself fit for Kolkata Test

With the four-match Test series finely poised at 1-1, England know they have a chance to make history following the unexpected success in Mumbai.

England have not won a Test series in India for nearly 28 years and Finn, who has been back in the nets this week after a lay-off for a thigh strain, looks likely to replace Broad as one of just two frontline seamers in the third Test.

Finn said: “If I’m needed on Wednesday, then I’ll be ready to go. I feel in good rhythm. I’m in a good place.”

The bowler missed the memorable win at Mumbai in the second Test and said it was hard to miss out on the celebrations that followed.

“It was difficult knowing that the lads were there in Mumbai, celebrating a win and being together, and I was on the other side (of the city) watching it on the TV,” he said.

“It was a strange feeling and something I didn’t enjoy missing out on, so I’m definitely keen to get in on the act if that happens this time.”

Finn managed only four overs in England’s first tour match, against India A back in October, before pulling up in pain as he retrieved a ball in the outfield.

“It was bitterly disappointing,” he said. “I’ve never had that feeling of something popping before. That’s what it felt like. It was alien to me.

“It was scary and very frustrating at the time, knowing I had a good chance of playing in that first Test match.

“Initially, we were working towards the second Test, but it took another 10 days or so more than we expected.

“The second scan showed a little bit more than the first scan.”

The pitch is once again likely to favour spin, as well as offering little bounce to the seamers.

Such a prospect doesn’t faze Finn, who bowled well at Eden Gardens in both limited-overs formats a little over a year ago.

Finn will be one of only two conventional pace bowlers, with spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann both set to play, but he said: “There is a little bit of pressure, because you’re being used as a strike bowler,” adding that “you still have to have a degree of patience and use your skills wisely.”