English pacer Steven Finn retires from all forms of cricket

Vartha Bharati | 14-08-2023 | 22:43:00 IST

Steven Finn (Photo: Sussex Cricket/ Instagram)

London, Aug 14: Former England pacer Steven Finn called time on his professional career, announcing retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday after ''admitting defeat'' to a chronic knee injury.

A knee injury that he suffered almost a year ago kept him out of action, as he missed most of the activity this year, prompting him to end his 18-year career.

In a statement issued by Sussex County Cricket Club, the 34-year-old Finn said, ''Today, I am retiring from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. I have been fighting a battle with my body for the last 12 months and have admitted defeat to it.'' ''To have played 125 games for England, including 36 Tests, far surpassed what I dreamed of. I want to thank Sussex Cricket for their support over the last 12 months especially and for welcoming me wholeheartedly into the Club at the beginning of last season.'' He added, ''I retire with some amazing memories with England, Middlesex and Sussex, shared with fantastic people. Those will live with me forever.

''Thank you to all the people who have followed and supported my career, especially my parents who allowed me to chase my dream when I was a youngster.'' Finn has had a decent career with England, having featured in 36 Tests, 69 One-Day Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals. Making his debut in 2010, he grabbed 14 wickets during the 2010-11 Ashes, which his side famously won 3-1 in Australia.

He was also a part of England's 2015 Ashes triumph, where he finished with 12 scalps, the second most for his side. Overall, he has taken 125 wickets in the longest format at an average of 30.40.

Finn also has decent numbers in the white-ball formats. While he claimed 102 wickets in 69 ODIs at 29.37 and an economy of 5.06, in T20Is, he has 27 from 21 at an economy rate of 3.55.

In the domestic circuit, he began his career with Middlesex in 2005 before moving to Sussex last year. The other sides he has played for include Otago Volts (New Zealand), Islamabad United (PSL) and Manchester Originals (The Hundred).

Speaking on Finn's retirement, Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace commented, ''Steven has been a fantastic bowler for Middlesex, Sussex and England.'' ''I have had the real pleasure of watching him develop from a young bowler in the pathway to being three times Ashes winner.

''Over the next few weeks and months, I'm sure he will look back on his career with great pride and reflect on his huge contribution to the game,'' he concluded.

💙 🦈 https://t.co/LWIJJ5MQFx
— Steven Finn (@finnysteve) August 14, 2023

Congratulations on a fantastic career, @finnysteve! 🌟
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 14, 2023

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Delhi Polls: BJP faces protest, placates MLA amid resentment over ticket distribution

12-01-2025 ¦ 12-01-2025 IST

BJP leader Kapil Mishra | PC: PTI

New Delhi, Jan 12: Resentment surfaced in the BJP on Sunday over ticket distribution for Delhi Assembly polls, with a protest held outside its Delhi unit office and an angry outburst by the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar who was not included in the candidate list released a day earlier.

As MLA Mohan Singh Bisht threatened to revolt after being denied a ticket from Karawal Nagar, the party rushed to control the damage and announced his candidature from the Mustafabad seat this evening.

A group of protesters from Tughlakabad in South Delhi held a dharna at the gate of the Delhi BJP office, demanding a change in the candidate from the constituency.

"Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them.

In the second list of BJP candidates for the polls declared on Saturday, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. In 2020 Assembly polls, Vikram Bidhuri who is a relative of senior party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, lost to AAP's Sahiram by over 13,000 votes.

A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.

Bisht, the senior-most BJP MLA in the outgoing Assembly elected five times from Karawal Nagar, openly expressed unhappiness over being denied the ticket to contest from his stronghold.

A senior party leader said he was pacified after a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.

Bisht, after getting the ticket from Mustafabad, expressed confidence that he would win the seat for the BJP.

"I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI.

The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.

The BJP won the Mustafabad seat, having a significant minority community presence, in the 2015 Assembly polls but lost it to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020.

Earlier in the day, Bisht told PTI that the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra was "wrong" and its consequences will be visible after voting on February 5.

"You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri," Bisht warned.

The BJP fielded Kapil Mishra, a Hindutva hardliner, from Karwal Nagar in North East Delhi, which was rocked by massive communal violence just after the 2020 Assembly polls.

Sources in the party claimed that there was also "deep resentment" among the Delhi BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha leaders over being denied tickets from different constituencies including Madipur and Kondli.

A top Delhi BJP functionary stressed that there are many ticket aspirants, so it is natural for those who did not get selected to feel disappointed.

"The BJP is a disciplined party and its leaders understand this. Sooner or later, everyone will realise this and work for the victory of the party giving up their resentment," he said.

The elections to 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are scheduled on February 5. Results will be out after the counting of votes on February 8.

The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to power. In the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, the party was completely routed by the AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats, respectively.