Bayliss pessimistic about Finn's chances of playing in fourth Test as Broad climbs to the top

Englands Stuart Broad, left, gestures after taking the wicket of South Africas Stiaan van Zyl in the third Test. His figures of 6-17 in Johannesburg have taken him to the top of the ICC world rankings (Picture: Themba Hadebe/AP).

Finn felt tightness in his left side during England’s series-clinching victory at the Wanderers and was sent for scans yesterday morning. Head coach Trevor Bayliss was pessimistic about his prospects, paving the way for Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan or Mark Footitt to feature in Centurion, as England eye a historic 3-0 success.

“Steven is away getting scans, but to be honest I doubt very much whether he’ll be available for the next Test,” commented Bayliss.

“We’ll have to wait and see how bad it is and make a decision on the one-day and Twenty20 series.

“But at this stage it looks like we have to make a replacement there heading into the last Test.

“That’s unfortunate because I thought he was probably our most dangerous bowler in the first two Tests.”

Finn missed the entire Pakistan series with a bone stress injury in his left foot and was not in the initial squad for South Africa.

But he proved his fitness during a stint with England Lions in Dubai and forced his way into the XI with a commanding display against South Africa A.

In the first three Tests, the 6ft 7ins seamer took 11 wickets at an average of 26.09.

England’s Stuart Broad became the No 1 Test bowler in the world after inspiring the side to victory over South Africa.

Broad’s best overseas figures of 6-17 sealed a 2-0 series win in Johannesburg and catapulted him to No 1 in the International Cricket Council’s rankings.

Steve Harmison was the previous England bowler to reach the summit, back in 2004, with Sir Ian Botham also achieving top spot in 1980.

Broad, the top wicket-taker in the current series with 15 at 16.46, overtakes India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and injured Proteas paceman Dale Steyn.

Yorkshireman Joe Root’s 110 saw him return to second place in the batting rankings, above Kane Williamson and AB de Villiers, but still behind Australia’s Steve Smith.