ASH, BANG WALLOP!
Wood aims to copy Harmy and boost his Ashes hopes
PACE ACE: Wood is back in the Test frame
MARK WOOD aims to use his surprise Caribbean call-up to press his Ashes claims.
The Durham pace man would also love to follow in the proud Ashington bootprints of Steve Harmison, who wreaked havoc on the West Indies 15 years ago.
Wood, 29, would boost his hopes of a regular
Test place if he manages to cause half the damage Harmy did during his record-breaking feats.
But he admits he needs to force his way into the team first.
Wood has flown out to join the England squad as replacement for the injured Olly Stone (above).
He said: “Harmy set a pretty high standard for a lad from Ashington. His 7-12 in Kingston wasn’t bad!
“So I’m going to have to be at my very best to get anywhere near what he achieved back in 2004.
“But there is a huge summer of cricket coming up with the World Cup and the Ashes and I want to throw my hat into the ring for some of it.
“It is a big time for England cricket with no major football tournament going on and everyone will want us to do really well. The World Cup being at home will be special and then who wouldn’t want to take on the Aussies on home soil?” Wood was in impressive form for the England Lions on tour in the UAE before Christmas. And Harmison is backing the lad from his home village to shine in the Windies if he can force his way into the side. He said: “Woody has proved he can take wickets for England at the highest level. He did that in the 2015 Ashes but he has had his fair share
ENGLAND boss Trevor Bayliss admits the “pressure is on” for his players – but backed them to secure a World Cup and Ashes double.
Bayliss said: “It probably does not get any bigger, especially in a six-month period and at home.
“There’s nothing like beating Australia in the Ashes like in 2015. Having lost in Australia 12 months ago it’s hard to separate the sides.” of injury problems. A fit and firing Mark Wood can be a very dangerous bowler and the West Indies would be the perfect stage for him to show off his speed and skills with the ball.
“I would love him to get the chance to perform out there.”
Joe Root’s men will walk out for the first Test at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday as hot favourites.
But even though the Windies are a shadow of their former Test best Wood insists he won’t underestimate them.
He said: “The last time we were here everyone was saying we should blow the West Indies away but we ended up drawing the series 1-1.
“They always get up for an England series but I still think we are firm favourites. If we can win in Sri Lanka we can also win in the West Indies.”
But Bayliss is refusing to choose between the two biggest prizes in the game for an English cricketer.
He added: “We have pressure because our expectation is to play good cricket and have a good chance of winning. Hopefully we walk away with both trophies.
“You hope each coach comes in and improves the side and passes on to the next guy.”