“Early wickets in one-day cricket are something that we target. Thankfully we've been able to do that in the games so far. Obviously, opening the bowling, I've a big part to play in that.” -Photo by AFP

DUBAI: In-form paceman Steven Finn on Sunday expressed his excitement at England's progress as a one-day team after clinching an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series against Pakistan.

The lanky 22-year-old fast bowler has been a star in England's three wins, finishing with identical career-best figures of 4-34 in the first two matches before taking 3-24 off ten overs in the third here on Saturday.

Finn and Stuart Broad (4-42) restricted Pakistan to 222 before Kevin Pietersen's first hundred in 36 innings and captain Alastair Cook's 80 steered England to a nine-wicket win.

Finn said the one-day series win gives England an opportunity to become a good one-day side.

“I wouldn't say it makes up for the Test series defeat,” said Finn of England's 3-0 loss to Pakistan in Tests and in which he only came on to serve the team drinks.

“I'd say it shows we've improved and adapted to the conditions and now have the chance to make it 4-0 on Tuesday.

“It is a great opportunity for us to ram home what a good one day side we've become.”

Finn, who was not included in any of the Tests, said he was bowling well since the start of the tour in January.

“I said at the beginning of the trip that I thought I was bowling well. I thought that I was capable of playing. It's nice to just get an opportunity and helping the team win games really spurs me on,” said Finn.

Finn stressed getting early wickets is important in one-day matches.

“Early wickets in one-day cricket are something that we target. Thankfully we've been able to do that in the games so far. Obviously, opening the bowling, I've a big part to play in that.

“It feels like I'm bowling pretty quick. It's not something that I strive for or something that I try and do. It's just something that has happened over the last six months or so. Long may it continue.”

Finn hoped he will get his Test place back.

“Yes, playing Test cricket is something that I want to do. It's something I want to do for the rest of my career. Playing one-day cricket is obviously very different from playing Test cricket.”

There are different skills and pressures. But Test cricket is where I want to be. By no means do I think I deserve to walk straight into that Test team. I haven't done myself any harm by bowling relatively well out here, so we'll see where we are if I'm picked in the Sri Lankan squad.

England tours Sri Lanka in April where they play two Tests.