Pacy Wood sends down a warning
MARK WOOD has promised to send Pakistan’s batsmen running for cover as he looks to crank up the pace during the remainder of England’s one-day series.
The Durham fast bowler hit the ground running in his first international match for 10 months on Wednesday, taking the wicket of Sharjeel Khan during England’s win in the opening ODI at Southampton with a bouncer that clocked 91.3mph.
His top speeds during the match were even quicker and he sent down his fastest delivery at 92.7mph.
Wood has battled back from two operations on his left ankle that had threatened his career.
Now, though, he feels fitter, stronger and quicker and, after admitting the more matches he plays the faster he will get, the 26-year-old could well be England’s answer to retired Aussie speedster Mitchell Johnson.
Johnson terrorised England by bowling consistently above 90mph during the Ashes whitewash in Australia in 2013-14.
Now Wood hopes he can do the same to Pakistan over the remaining four matches of this series, starting in tomorrow’s second ODI at Lord’s.
“I reckon I could go quicker, yeah,” he said.
“I’ve been rushed back through to get some game time, having missed the first half of the summer.
“I’ve only played two County Championship games and in one of those I only bowled 14 overs.
“So if I get that match fitness back up hopefully I can bowl even quicker.
“In one-day cricket I think people see the value in having pace.
“The analyst gets quite worked up when I come in and he says ‘you’re bowling at 92’, he always lets me know.
“But bowling thinking when I’m about I’m not how quick I am, I’m just thinking about either a plan or trying to knock someone’s head off.
“I just give it everything I’ve got and if it’s fast that’s brilliant.”
Wood’s renewed trust in his left ankle – the one which lands first when he bowls – means he is able to now go full tilt regularly rather than hold himself back, as he did when he first broke into England’s team last summer.
“I would say quicker,” he said.
“I have not got the pain in the back of my ankle, which was causing me huge problems.
“People were saying I could not play back-to-back games but it wasn’t that, I just couldn’t bowl at 90mph every day.
“I am a totally different bowler at 90 mph to when I am bowling 80mph. It is a totally different game. I need that pace.
“It’s great to be back in the team, it’s nice to be bowling quick but ultimately I’ll be judged on wickets. Hopefully I can go to Lord’s and get a few more.”
Wood’s last international game before Wednesday came in the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai last October.
His limited action over the past year, though, means Wood is not guaranteed a central contract by England when they are renewed next month.
If he misses out, Wood would almost certainly be forced to leave his native Durham, who are struggling financially and would be unable to afford his wages on their own.
The Ashington-born bowler said: “It’s complicated off the field at Durham, everyone knows there are issues there.
“I love the North-east lad.
“Am I confident of a central contract? I wouldn’t say so, but I know that part of the reason that we give out central contracts is to look after fast bowlers.
“If I was to fall into that category that would be brilliant. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens come September.” I’m consistently North-east, I’m a