🎄🏏 Ashes Heartbreak: Christmas Day Shock for England’s Finn
Imagine this: it’s Christmas Day, and instead of festive cheer, you’re hit with career-defining news while standing by a hand dryer. That’s exactly what happened to former England cricketer Steve Finn during the 2010/11 Ashes series in Australia.
Finn, then the series’ top wicket-taker, was poised for a Boxing Day Test appearance at Melbourne Cricket Ground. His family had travelled from the UK just to watch him play. But things took a dramatic turn when Andrew Strauss pulled him aside for a quiet word – in the loo of all places – to drop the bombshell that Finn was being replaced by Tim Bresnan for the match.
🎙 On the “For The Love of Cricket” podcast, Finn recounted the moment, acknowledging he’d had a rough outing in the previous game against Australia, yet, like any player, he was clinging to hope. In the end, though, the blow was as brutal as a Mitchell Johnson bouncer.
Despite that heartbreak, Finn is one of the few who can boast being part of an Ashes-winning squad on Aussie soil. The series ultimately saw England triumph 3-1 against Australia.
As for the current squad, things aren’t looking as rosy. With Ben Stokes’ men trailing 3-0, and Jofra Archer sidelined due to injury, they face a Herculean task in the remaining matches. There’s also added pressure from off-field issues, with Ben Duckett in hot water over a leaked video from their mid-series break.
As England gear up for the next showdown at the MCG, the festive crowd of 90,000-plus will be anything but forgiving. Can they turn their fortunes around, or will it be another Ashes to forget? Stay tuned! 🏏🎄