At Perth’s Optus Stadium, where the Ashes starts on Friday, Mark Wood‘s chances of playing in the opening Test match against Australia improved on Tuesday after he spent 40 minutes in the nets.
Mark Wood, with his left leg firmly bandaged, watched England return to training after a few of days off after suffering a hamstring scare during last week’s warm-up match against the England Lions. He quickly got into productive work with the ball, though, as Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes examined their valuable possession more closely from the perspective of the standing umpire.
Jamie Smith, one of the batters who faced Mark Wood, stated, “I can tell you that firsthand, he was absolutely rapid today.” “He should undoubtedly be avoided on the list. He’s almost at full steam, which bodes well for us.
On a pitch that is thought to be among the quickest in the world, England is anticipated to choose an all-pace attack. Mark Wood is an important part of that strategy because he is the only specialist bowler with prior Ashes tour experience in addition to being the fastest player in the travelling party and possibly the circuit. Several of the hitters he tormented are still in the current Australian team.
During the 2021–22 series, Mark Wood was the most impressive batsman, taking 17 wickets at a rate of 26.64.
Mark Wood performance on Wednesday and his ability to complete another practice later in the day will determine a lot. He had surgery on his left knee after suffering a stress fracture of his right elbow in September 2024, and he hasn’t played competitive cricket since February.
Mark Wood selection is still risky, but it will be mitigated by Stokes and four other quicks, while Jofra Archer can offer more assistance on the express pace front. Additionally, England is more than eager to take the risk.
After two four-over stints against the Lions, Mark Wood exited the pitch with a tight hamstring, but the management was not too concerned. In what was Wood’s first bowl since England’s penultimate Champions Trophy encounter against Afghanistan on February 26, the soft outfield at Lilac Hills added to that misery. Additionally, there is a belief that now is the right time to cash in on Wood’s investment, which includes a three-year central contract with this Ashes in mind.
That opinion was echoed by Josh Tongue, who is expected to benefit if Mark Wood is found unsuitable for selection: “It feels like if he’s good to go and the management feels he’s good to go, I don’t see why not.”
India
