Flintoff inspires Finn’s Gabba heroics

Sure, Andrew Flintoff may not have the best track record in Australia.

But Steven Finn reckons the former England captain’s advice helped inspire his career-best one-day bowling figures in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Finn claimed 5-33 – his maiden ODI five-wicket haul – to help reduce India to just 153 within 40 overs at the Gabba.

England then cruised to a bonus point victory when Ian Bell (88 not out) and James Taylor (56 not out) shared an unbroken 131-run second wicket stand to reach 1-156 with a staggering 22.3 overs to spare.

Finn’s heroics marked almost a year to the day that the English quick left an Australian tour a shattered man.

Back then, the lanky quick went home after being the only member of England’s 17-strong squad not used in their 5-0 Ashes Test series loss to Australia.

At the time England one-day coach Ashley Giles described Finn as “not selectable” and claimed the quick had returned home to “work on technical aspects of his game”.

Finn dug deep to earn another nod for their current Australian tour but reckoned Flintoff’s input helped spark his match to remember against India.

Flintoff only had bad memories of his last full Down Under tour, later confirming he had suffered with depression during the 2006-7 5-0 whitewash to Australia, the first time England had suffered such an Ashes deficit since 1920-21.

However, a revitalised Flintoff has won plenty of supporters with his colourful TV commentary of the Big Bash League Twenty20 tournament while juggling Brisbane Heat playing duties.

And Finn also sounded like a big fan after Flintoff rubbed shoulders with the English quick at team training ahead of their crunch Gabba clash with India on Tuesday night.

“I’ve never really spoken to Freddie (Flintoff) about cricket before it was interesting,” Finn said.

“I thought it was great to have him at the nets, to have ex-England players around is a fantastic idea.

“To tap into the knowledge they’ve got and to get their perspective on things from outside the bubble was a refreshing experience.

“We just chatted about keeping bowling as simple as you possibly can and so when you get out to the middle to just bowl.

“That served him well throughout his career and it’s a great piece of advice for any young fast bowler.”

Finn hoped to again use Flintoff’s tips against Australia in Hobart on Friday in a match they must win to keep alive hopes of a final berth in the triangular ODI series.

“To come here and beat the No.2 team in the manner we did gives us confidence,” Finn said.

“But we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

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