SEAMAN: LET ME PLAY ON
To think that a year ago England were still dreaming of having just one fast man ready for the World Cup – and they probably thought it would be Olly Stone before he suffered a stress fracture in his lower back.
Now the Trent Bridge faithful can expect a whole new episode of the fast show in Nottingham against Pakistan with two bowlers who do not need to be behind the wheel of a sports car to operate above 90mph.
Wood returns to the side for the first time since the West Indies tour in March, while Archer has enjoyed a two-game rest after wowing in his first three England matches.
And with just two matches left before the World Cup gets underway, now is the time to see just what kind of added threat express pace from both ends can be.
“To find two fast bowlers in any team tends to be rare,” said Wood. “So it will be good to play in the same team.
“It will be nice to bounce off him, see what plans he has.
“Obviously he’s someone who’s a bit taller, but it will be nice to see how he works, hopefully watch him from fine leg bowling rockets.
“Watching his spell at the Oval, it was fantastic – he has natural raw pace, whereas I feel I have to bust a gut to get it up there.
“It’s just so natural and that’s exciting for English cricket.
“I’ve not played with that kind of pace before – maybe Steve Finn. Ben Stokes can bowl fast,
Chris Jordan too – b u t definitely he is right up there in the best in the world for pace, so it will be interesting to bowl alongside him.”
As long as they are fit, both Wood and Archer are inked in for World Cup action.
Wood has had a rotten time of it with injuries throughout his career with his left ankle causing most of the problems and it was a combination of that and the weather that kept him on the sidelines this season until now.
Sir Alex Ferguson won his first trophy as Manchester United boss as his team beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in an FA Cup final replay at Wembley, Lee Martin (below) scoring the winner. 1998: Ron Atkinson, having kept Sheffield Wednesday in the Premier League, left the club for the second time.
Arsenal were beaten by Galatasaray in a penalty shoot-out in the UEFA Cup final in Copenhagen. 2006: Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in the Champions League final in
Paris. 2013: James Anderson took his 300th
Test wicket, against New Zealand at Lord’s.
MARK WOOD BOWLING STATS
Tests ODIs T20Is 1st-class List A T20s Innings 13
39
5
87
71
25 Wkts 36 41 11 162 87 30 Ave 37.36 45.14 13.45 27.37 34.37 22.36
JOFRA ARCHER BOWLING STATS
Innings ODIs 2 T20Is 1 1st-class 54 List A 15 T20s 90 Runs 1345 1851 148 4435 2991 671
Runs 46 29 3071 691 2670 VETERAN keeper David Seaman revealed he wanted to play an extra season on the eve of what was expected to be his farewell apeearance for Arsenal in the FA Cup Final against Southampton. The Gunners still released him.
Wkts 2
2 131 23 118
Ave 23.00 14.50 23.44 30.04 22.62
IEcon 3.35 5.58 8.45 3.30 5.33 8.03
Econ 3.83 7.25 3.09 5.16 7.84 The football season might be over but you can still play Footie5, our free football prediction game! This Summer we’re giving away up to Just predict five correct Major League Soccer scores and you could hit the jackpot! Philadelphia are flying high in the Eastern Conference and have won their last 5 at home (scoring 14 and conceding just 2). Seattle don’t lose many, but could struggle here, facing a quick turnaround from a mid-week home fixture and this mammoth road trip of over 2800 Miles . Minnesota need to start turning home draws into wins if they are secure their first ever MLS Play-off berth. Columbus don’t travel well and will need to rely on new Man City recruit, goalkeeper Zack Steffen to get a result here. Sporting KC won the Western Conference last season but have been slow out of the traps this time around. Vancouver have recovered from a dreadful start to the season, but can’t be trusted on the road. Back Kansas to blow Vancouver away here. Houston and DC United have made strong starts to the season and both look nailed on to be involved in the post season play offs. Houston are strong at home, but DC United, inspired by Wayne Rooney can claim a point on the road. LAFC have blazed a trail in the Western Conference and are on track re-write the MLS record books (including most goals, most points & best goal difference). Dubbed as the “Man City of MLS” they face a tricky looking trip to Dallas, who are traditionally strong at home and can claim a point here.