CHANGE OF PACE
Wood relishing his chance to put the wind up rival batsmen with new fast bowling partner Mills
MARK WOOD believes Tymal Mills can stir up the same highoctane pace battle with him that Jofra Archer did to fire England to World Cup glory.
Only this time batsmen will get hit by the right from Wood and by the left from Mills as the two different angles of attack add to their armoury.
Wood loved competing with Archer over which of them was the fastest in the side and between them they sent down half a dozen of the quickest deliveries in the 2019 50-over World Cup.
Mills has got a job to do to break into the first-choice side, but Wood is pushing for them to play together and show what real pace can do.
“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. I haven’t bowled with him yet, we’ve been in opposite nets but to watch him, I certainly wouldn’t want to face him.
“He’s looking the business at the minute so hopefully he can bring some fire and I’ll have to up my game as well.
“I wouldn’t say it is one or the other of us in the side, T’s come in for Jofra who is injured and I played with and bowled alongside Jofra. We’re all competing for places here because there’s only a certain amount of seamers that can play, but I don’t feel like me and T are in direct competition.
“We’ve got a huge chance, we’ve got a great team. We’ve got an awesome side with some top, top players, match-winners throughout the team, so I hope sides are worrying about us.”
At least Wood will have some real pace for company in the first part of the winter.
When he gets to Australia for the Ashes he will have to carry the load all on his own shoulders.
With no Archer, no Olly Stone and no Ben Stokes – for now – the only regular 90mph bowler to unsettle the Aussies is Durham’s finest.
But despite the muted reaction to the squad that was named on Monday, Wood still thinks that England have a real chance of success Down Under.
“I am like the last man standing on Game of Thrones, aren’t I!” quipped the 31-year-old pace ace.
“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 because you want them to be there.
“But the main thing is if we can set the base with the bat, as Chris Silverwood wants us to do and get the big runs, then that gives us the best chance of getting 20 wickets.
“I feel if we get runs in Australia then we’ve got a great chance of bowling them out with the likes of Broad and Anderson – they’re high-quality performers.
“We can put pressure on them with the ball.”