I play every game as if it’s my last, admits injury-jinxed Wood
MARK WOOD savoured his remarkable all-round return to international cricket by admitting he treats each England appearance as if it might be his last. Wood, missing since the World Cup final in July with a side injury, added the first two wickets of South Africa’s second innings to his 42 off 23 balls when England batted and even pulled off an outstanding catch at point to dismiss Quinton de Kock and give Joe Root one of his four wickets. Then a man who has been plagued by injury problems and has had four operations on his chronic left ankle talked of making the most of every England game while he can. ‘I’ve loved this,’ said the Durham fast bowler. ‘I’ve been trying to enjoy it and take it all in. With the way my body’s been, I can’t take all this for granted because it could be my last game. I had a lot of fun even if I did milk that catch!’ Wood paid tribute to England’s unlikely bowling hero Root, who took four for 31 as South Africa crashed to 102 for six after he had made them follow on 290 behind. ‘Rooty under-bowls himself because he’s captain,’ said Wood. ‘I don’t know if you’ve seen him in practice but he’s doing a lot more bowling and we all hope he gets his five-wicket haul tomorrow. ‘Mind you, he bowled himself at the right end, didn’t he? He put young Dom Bess at the non-spinning end. The captain’s not stupid, is he?’ Wood’s humour was also evident when asked if England were worried about another uncertain weather forecast today. He said: ‘I thought Africa was the sunniest place in the world and then I come here and it’s like Durham. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit worried but we’re in a hot country and the wind blows here, so hopefully it will dry out quickly if it does rain.’ Wood admitted he is far from certain of being fit enough to play in the second of back-to-back Tests that complete this series on the fast and bouncy pitch in Johannesburg on Friday. ‘I don’t know if I’ll play,’ he added. ‘It’s too far ahead to know, especially with my body. I’m a little tired but a good night’s sleep and I’ll be raring to go tomorrow. Let’s get this job done first.’