Finn eager to get more match overs into his legs ahead of Ashes challenge

Finn and the remainder of England's first-choice Test attack may be spared the trip to Hobart to take on Australia A next week, instead heading straight to Brisbane to acclimatise for the first Test.

The 6ft 8ins seamer admits he is on a "massive learning curve" on his first tour Down Under, and his improvement in the course of the opening match in Perth last week was noticeable after a moderate first spell against Western Australia.

England were expected to select him and the remainder of their anticipated Test XI to face South Australia in Adelaide today.

Whether the bowlers will then be asked to travel to Tasmania on Sunday, or sent straight to Queensland and replaced by a back-up attack, will depend on their own form and the weather –some rain is forecast – over the next three days.

Finn said: "Playing three games is good for us – three games against competitive teams is massively important for us.

"To get those overs into your legs is important.

"I bowled 35 overs in the last game. That helps massively, and to play competitive cricket is great."

England have worked hard in the nets before each of the first two of their three warm-up fixtures but Finn believes there is no adequate replacement for the real thing.

"That is the best way to do it, because there is nothing that replicates competitive matches.

"It's totally different to making nets competitive. You can make nets competitive to a certain extent. But to put yourself into a game situation and have something riding on it makes it a lot more realistic."

As for the latest plans being worked out by coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, Finn confirmed: "I've got no idea what's going to be happening.

"It's an option the management are looking into, but it doesn't matter to me.

"Having bowled 35 overs in the last game, I'm sure the management will make a decision closer to Hobart – if they feel we need more bowling, or whatever."

Finn was disappointed with that first spell in the six-wicket victory over WA, but heartened that he soon overcame the problem of over-pitching.

"It's a massive learning curve for me, having never bowled in Australia before," he said.

"No matter where you are in the world, it's important you adapt to conditions as quickly as possible.

"You need to realise the right place to bowl, and then make the most of it."

Zulqarnain Haider's international future was plunged into further doubt yesterday after the Pakistan Cricket Board suspended his central contract.

The PCB took the step in response to the wicketkeeper's decision to leave their current series against South Africa early, claiming it represented a violation of his contract. Haider left the team's hotel in the hours before the fifth one-day international in Dubai on Monday, and flew out to London.

The 24-year-old has since claimed he abandoned the team because he received death threats after hitting the winning runs in the fourth ODI on Friday. Haider's arrival in London has preceded a number of conflicting reports about his future, with Pakistani network Geo News claiming he had retired from international cricket amid fears for his and his family's safety back in Pakistan.