Ashes 2013: Alastair Cook admits to tough decision on Steve Finn and seam bowlers ahead of Lord's However, on a slow pitch not suited to his style, fast bowler Finn was not called upon by Cook until 30 overs of Australia's second innings chase had passed and was then promptly targeted by Brad Haddin before being quickly removed from the attack. However, the second Test is at Lord's, Finn's Middlesex home ground, where the tall paceman has taken 29 wickets at a miserly average of 20.65 in five Tests, compared to a more expensive career average of 29.40. "Obviously you try and be as loyal as you can to your players when you've won a Test match," Cook told a Lord's news conference on Wednesday. You want players confident they're going to get a good run. But on the other hand you always pick a side you think can win the Test and you do have to make tough decisions. I'd love to say the guys who play under me feel they've got my backing but you do have to take tough decisions for the good of the side. You need to look at the best balanced attack in the conditions available. We all know you need 20 wickets to win a Test match. Sometimes there are different ways of going about that. Part of the skill of being a selector or to weigh up all those conundrums and try to get right answers in the end. But Cook said local conditions were a factor as well. "Your record at a certain place can play a part," Cook said. You always try to find the balance of the attack for the conditions you find; past form and past bowling (at a venue) is very important.