Speed merchant Mills can fill the Archer void
I’D NOT LIKE TO FACE HIM SAYS WOOD
MARK WOOD believes Tymal Mills can stir up the same highoctane pace battle with him that Jofra Archer did in 2019 to fire England to World Cup glory.
Only this time batsmen will get hit by the right from Wood and the left from Mills – via the two different angles of attack.
Wood loved competing with Archer over who was the fastest. Between them they sent down half a dozen of the quickest deliveries in the 50-over event.
Mills now has a job to do to break into the T20 side but his fellow paceman is pushing for the two of them to play together.
“It worked for me and Jofra,” said Wood. “So, me and T might have to keep it going.
“He’s looked sharp in the nets and I certainly wouldn’t want to face him. Hopefully he can bring some fire and I’ll have to up my game as well.
“I wouldn’t say it’s one or the other of us in the side.T’s come in for Jofra, who is injured.
“We’ve got an awesome side with some top players, matchwinners throughout the team, so I hope sides are worrying about us.” Wood will have some real pace for company in the T20 World Cup, but when he gets to Australia for the Ashes that follow he will have to carry the load on his own shoulders.
With no Archer, Olly Stone and Ben Stokes – for now – the only regular 90mph bowler to unsettle the Aussies is Durham’s finest.
Despite the muted reaction to the squad named on Monday, Wood believes England have an excellent chance of success Down Under.
“I’m like the last man standing on Game of Thrones, aren’t I?” quipped the 31-year-old. “That would have been the plan for me, Stoney and Jofra and we’d hit them hard.
“Unfortunately, injuries happen, I’ve had plenty myself and it’s hard on those lads.
“But the main thing is if we can set the base with the bat, as coach Chris Silverwood wants us to, and get the big runs, that gives us the best chance of getting 20 wickets.
“If we get runs we’ve got a great chance of bowling them out with the likes of Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson. We can put pressure on them with the ball.”