Steve Finn: the secret of winning the Ashes

Steve Finn has long argued that the real secret to winning the Ashes is relentless bowling discipline backed by emotional control—the ability to keep hammering a ruthless length even when the game feels flat or hostile.

Finn says Ashes cricket rewards bowlers who can “hit the pitch hard for long periods,” creating pressure through sequences rather than magic balls. He also stresses the psychological edge: embracing the hostility of Australian crowds, staying calm when the game turns chaotic, and refusing to give batters release scoring.

For Finn, the Ashes aren’t won by pace alone but by a collective, suffocating mindset—a bowling unit squeezing Australia until they crack, just as England managed in their 2010–11 triumph when Finn himself set the early tone with crucial breakthroughs.

Nov 2025