Steve Finn admits he is upset and disappointed at being sent home from England’s tour of Australia but accepts he is currently “a long way from being picked” for the national side.

The Watford-born fast bowler has struggled with his bowling action in recent months. He was named in England’s 17-man squad for the Ashes series but didn’t play in any of the five tests which ended in defeat for the tourists.

Finn was also not involved in the opening one-day international, which England lost by six wickets, and missed out on Tuesday’s 172-run victory against a Prime Minister’s XI.

Despite relentlessly working to fix certain issues with his bowling whilst down under, he has been left frustrated and admits it is best for him to return to England.

“I don’t think it will take too much for me to get back to where I want to be,” the 24-year-old told England Cricket’s YouTube channel. “The best environment for me to do that is back in England.”

He added: “At the moment I’m a long way from being picked for England and I am honest enough to know that.”

Ashley Giles, England’s one-day coach, said Finn was returning home “for his own good” but was adamant the former Langleybury and West Herts player has a future with the national side and stressed he remains one of England’s most talented bowlers.

Finn admits he is disappointed not to have played during his time in Australia but says he returns knowing he worked as hard as he could to sort out his problems.

“I am knackered because I’ve spent so many hours in the nets trying to get it right,” he said.

The former Parmiter’s School pupil plans to spend two weeks away from cricket when he gets back to England before returning to Middlesex Cricket Club and ironing out his problems.

Finn, who has taken 90 wickets in his 23 Test matches, believes he is not far away from readdressing the issues currently affecting his game but admits it may be some time before he returns to the international side.

England leave for a tour of the West Indies in February before the World Twenty20 competition in March.

“It will be difficult for me to put my hand up for selection because there will be no outdoor cricket before that point,” Finn admitted.

“So that might be slightly unrealistic for me. I am not letting go of the hope that everything might click once I get back to England but it will be difficult to push myself for that tour.”

Finn joked that he “hadn’t forgotten how to bowl” but felt he had to return to playing “with a youthful naivety” that he had at the start of his England career.

He will try and rediscover his form back with Middlesex, who train at Radlett Cricket Club, and director of cricket at the club, Angus Fraser, believes it is important Finn rediscovers his love for bowling.

“It’s hugely frustrating for Steven because he wanted to play a major part in Australia, but sometimes the harder you try the worse it gets,” Fraser, who played in 46 Test matches and 42 one-day internationals for England, told BBC Sport.

“Working every day to try and win selection, with people asking where he is and what he’s doing, is not the ideal environment.

“I think the main thing is that Steven falls back in love with bowling. I’ve seen bowlers run up in tears before.

“But Steven just needs to love bowling for the sake of bowling again – not to win selection for the next ODI or the first Test of the summer.”