THEY HAVE TO PUT ME IN BUBBLE WRAP TO KEEP ME FIT

After ankle hell, Mark Wood can bowl England to glory

England will tomorrow unwrap the metaphorical cotton wool that protects Mark Wood between games and ask him to bowl them to the champions Trophy final.

Wood, who feared his career was over after a third operation on his left ankle in a year, has recovered to become the most important member of an attack that has exceeded expectations in propelling england to the final four.

The man who occasionally celebrates a wicket by riding an imaginary horse in the outfield has been a thoroughbred in taking big wickets throughout this tournament.

now he has become the go-to man for captain eoin Morgan as well as his best new-ball and at-the-death bowler.

‘It’s a nice feeling to have the confidence of the captain,’ said Wood as england began preparations for their semi- final against Pakistan in cardiff.

‘ I don’t know if, subconsciously, it makes me try a little harder but I seem to be getting the best players out. It’s a good knack to have and I hope to keep it up.

‘You lift up, push back your shoulders, puff out your chest a little bit — you feel like the captain really needs you and you want to be the man who changes the game. That’s what I’ve tried to do.’

Wood, 27, is certainly claiming illustrious scalps with his skiddy 90mph pace, adding australia’s steve smith and david Warner at edgbaston on saturday to a 50- over list that includes Kane Williamson and Hashim amla this season.

Yet it could have been all over for Wood if a third operation to remove bone to sort out a chronic problem in his left ankle had not proved a success. Instead, he has eased his way back through the gears this season to peak in this major tournament.

now england need to do their utmost to ensure he remains fit and firing at the most important times because he will be crucial in their attempt to match australia’s firepower in this winter’s ashes.

‘My body is holding up really well,’ said Wood. ‘The backroom staff have been fantastic since I’ve come back — they roll me in sellotape and cover me in bubble wrap between games so I hope I’ll be ready for the semi-final.’

england were exceptional with the ball both against australia at edgbaston and when they beat new Zealand at a cardiff ground that Wood hopes will suit them when they come up against outsiders Pakistan.

‘We definitely take confidence from our last game there,’ said Wood, who exploited uneven bounce at sophia Gardens against new Zealand. ‘We know the conditions and the ground’s dimensions and cardiff has been good to us.

‘It’s fantastic at the moment. We’ve got one hell of a team and I love being part of it.

‘When we were three wickets down against australia I thought I’d have to get my pads on again but we’ve got so many game- changers in the team.

‘When Morgs hit the first ball for four after the rain delay everyone thought, “here we go — let’s fight fire with fire”. It shifted the momentum back towards us.’

The cricketers’ mantra is usually to concentrate on what is immediately ahead but Wood, who took the final australian wicket at Trent Bridge in 2015 to clinch the ashes, admitted he has one eye on the winter.

‘of course, I’m thinking about the ashes,’ he said. ‘If I can do well in a white-ball tournament like this one, and then back it up by being consistent with the red ball, I’d love to get back in the Test team later this year.’

england will be bringing along that cotton wool to help get him there.