Wood ups the pace to stay with Test squad

MARK WOOD provided a crumb of comfort to England yesterday by bowling at something like full pace on another chastening day dominated by off-field antics. Wood, promoted from the Lions squad as he steps up his perennial battle for full fitness, was the stand-out performer in a two-day tour game against a mediocre Cricket Australia XI which was almost lost by England after two declarations. It now seems certain he will stay with the full England team for the third Test in Perth and beyond even though he is unlikely to play at the WACA and will not be officially added to the squad. ‘I thought he bowled really well,’ said England’s standin captain Moeen Ali. ‘He was quick, his areas were good and he was certainly our most threatening bowler.’ Elsewhere, England’s fringe Test squad players and those Lions given a senior chance disappointed, with no batsman managing more than Keaton Jennings’ first-innings 80 and the bowlers largely struggling to make an impact.