Fast bowler Steven Finn insists Andrew Strauss remains the right man to captain England.
Bowler insists England skipper is 'not out of nick'
Steven Finn insists Andrew Strauss remains the right man to captain England.
Strauss' position as Test skipper has come under increasing pressure due to his batting struggling - with his last century having come in Brisbane 17 months ago.
However despite disappointing performances against Pakistan and Sri Lanka this winter, England will nonetheless begin the first Investec Test against West Indies at Lord's as the world's No.1 team.
Strauss has led from the front in England's rise from unpromising beginnings, since becoming permanent captain in 2009.
Fast bowler Finn said: "He is England captain for a reason. He deals with these situations very well."
Finn was present last week when opener Strauss' hopes of morale-boosting runs for Middlesex against Durham at Lord's realised just six in two attempts - bowled in both innings by Graham Onions.
"It won't have bothered him too much that he didn't get any runs in that first match," he added.
"He is not out of nick."
While Strauss' form is sure to dominate cricket headlines up to and including that first match of three against the Windies, Finn knows his priority is to get his own house in order.
Enjoyed
He has done that to significant effect, with few opportunities, over the winter - having been able to add just one Test cap, in the series-levelling draw against Sri Lanka in Colombo this month, to one last year too.
The 23-year-old continues nonetheless to be depicted as one of the world's premier emerging fast-bowling talents thanks to his exploits with the white ball in limited-overs formats.
After a winter dominated by spin, and with Chris Tremlett out injured, his chance will surely come this summer.
He finished with 7-98 against Durham but said: "You can't take anything for granted.
"I enjoyed my winter away, and I feel like I did myself justice.
"My game has come on a fair bit since I played in those Ashes Test matches 14 or 15 months ago."
Neither Finn, in that one 2011 Test, nor the rest of the England attack were at their best against Sri Lanka at Lord's last year.
"Lord's is a tricky place to bowl if you haven't bowled there for a little while," he said.
"It can take a bit of getting used to. But the slope is a great asset as well, because it keeps you in the game all the time.
"You're not going to bowl well every single game, and collectively we just didn't really get it right. But we didn't lose that match either."
