Finn hoping his one-day displays will earn him England Test spot

Yet even if he does inch the verdict in tomorrow’s dead rubber, ahead of the stiff competition from centurions Alastair Cook and belatedly Kevin Pietersen, Finn has his eyes on a much bigger prize.

It is a measure of England’s pace-bowling riches that he has played just once in 12 Tests, since being substituted out of the reckoning half way through England’s Ashes victory in Australia in 2010/11.

He therefore missed their final push to the top of the world rankings, in last summer’s 4-0 whitewash of India, and all the accolades that then came their way.

But he was absent too from the fall from grace here in the desert, watching at close quarters but powerless to alter the tide of events as England lost 3-0 to Pakistan.

It is impossible to suggest Finn could have done too much about that, because England’s bowlers were a reliable constant throughout a series in which batting failures decided matters.

Even so, after 11 wickets for 92 runs in their unexpected romp to an unassailable 3-0 ODI series lead, Finn senses his time might just have come too to add significantly to his 12 Test caps.

“Playing Test cricket is something that I want to do,” he said.

“It’s something I want to do for the rest of my career.

“There are different skills and pressures in one-day cricket. But Test cricket is where I want to be.”

England will name their squad to travel to Sri Lanka immediately at the conclusion of the three Twenty20s against Pakistan which follow this ODI series.

Chris Tremlett, one of the men who replaced Finn to great effect mid-Ashes and has been ahead of him ever since, has had back surgery after flying home last month before the second Test.

Even if England therefore major on spin in Sri Lanka – with two seam-bowling spots apparently nailed down by Stuart Broad and James Anderson – it is hard to believe they can afford to keep 22-year-old Finn waiting much longer.

“By no means do I think I deserve to walk straight into that Test team,” he said.

“But I feel as if I’m ready to play Test cricket.

“It’s not in my hands whether I do or not.

“All I can do is keep trying to perform in every game I’m picked to play.

“I hope I’ll play on Tuesday and I can put in another performance there.

“Every time I bowl well for England it does me no harm, and I’ve targeted that Test place.

“By no means am I expecting to be in that Test team. It’s just something I’m working towards.”

Finn’s many improvements since he was last a Test regular are increased pace from his 6ft 7in height and much greater consistency of length – where half-volleys and full-tosses used occasionally to proliferate.

Add in his control of reverse-swing when available, and he is close to the full package – even if some still contend he could do with more of the traditional fast bowler’s aggression.

“I think it helps to be aggressive when you’re taking wickets,” he said.

“I’ve always tried to be aggressive, but it helps that I’m bowling a little quicker these days.

“I like to let my bowling do the talking.

“You can have all the bravado that you want, but if you bowl a heap of rubbish it’s not going to help.

“You have to back your words with actions, and thankfully I’ve been doing that this series.”

As for England’s much-needed resurgence here, after their Test whitewash and an equally chastening 5-0 ODI trouncing in India last October, Finn is naturally enthused – but wants to see plenty more of the same.

“We lost 5-0 in India and lost the Test series 3-0, so to come back and be 3-0 up in a four-match series is a very good effort – mentally and physically,” he said.

“I think we’ve proved to ourselves that we can play in the sub-Continent, and we’ve developed plans that work in the sub-Continent.

“After losing the Tests 3-0, it’s important we try to ram home and win the series 4-0.

“It is a great thing to be involved with, to win out here in their own conditions.

“It’s what we came to achieve.”

Pietersen’s unbeaten 111, his first century since he made exactly the same score in Cuttack during his short tenure as captain, helped to carry England to victory by nine wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

He also shared an opening stand of 170 with Alastair Cook (80), as England made short work – just 37.2 overs’ worth – of passing 222 all out.

Pietersen has now figured in stands of more than 50 in each of three attempts with the prolific Cook on his return to the top of the order.

But even after his miserable run of form in England’s 3-0 Test series defeat here, he baulked at the idea that his 93-ball century was the most pleasing aspect of the day for him.

“To win for England is the most important,” he said.

Pietersen reserved his superlatives for England’s achievement, a notable one against subcontinental opponents in Asia.

“We’re 3-0 up as well,” he said. “So it’s a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant result for the lads.

“For an England to come out here, where we don’t generally win one-day cricket – we got hammered in India – it is not very easy for us.

“For us to sit here 3-0 up in a four-match series is amazing. The boys are so happy in the dressing room.”

As for the significance of his eighth ODI century, after such a long wait, he added: “I don’t think I have to prove points.”