I fly at an International Airport. You were cleared to base - you were not asked to report ready for base.
Therefore, once on base, nobody ever asks when you are ready to turn final - that turn you make of your own accord. (Exception maybe needed on an ILS to lose more ht. and dogleg etc to capture the glide).
So, methinks you turn final and confirm you are finals to land.
Let's face it, he / she was probably looking at you on a screen, but a little communication would have helped!
Take it you were in a single as no ref to a decision ht?
Agree with last poster - beating up the field at low level does one no favours - Go Around from a sensible ht.