PACE ACE WOOD FIRED UP TO GO FASTER STILL
DURHAM BOWLER FULLY FOCUSED ON ENGLAND – AS CENTRAL CONTRACT DECISION LOOMS
Mark Wood believes he can crank up his genuine express pace even further still despite comfortably topping 90mph on his long-awaited England return.
The Durham paceman has put all thoughts of chasing a new central contract to the back of his mind to focus on re-establishing himself with England.
The 26-year-old has spent a year battling ankle trouble and undergoing two operations, but is finally approaching something like top speed.
Wood topped 92mph in England’s rain-hit 44-run one-day international victory over Pakistan at Southampton.
Asked if he can still up the ante on the speed front, Wood said: “I reckon I could, yeah.
“When you get that rhythm and match fitness back. I’ve been rushed back through to get some game time having missed the first half of the summer.
“And I’ve been desperate to play, so I’ve not really had that time where I’ve been getting used to bowling and bowling again.
“I’ve only played two Championship games, and in one of those I only bowled 14 overs. So if I get that match fitness back up hopefully I can bowl even quicker.”
England take on Pakistan in the second of five one-day clashes at Lord’s tomorrow, with Wood hoping that he can back up his impressive opening-clash showing.
With Durham embroiled in financial struggles and Wood’s central contract up for renewal, he insisted he must simply focus on finding his niche in England’s shortformat line-ups.
“It’s complicated off the field at Durham, and everyone knows there are issues there,” said Wood.
“My situation is to focus solely on getting back in the England team first.
“I love the North East, I’m a North East lad.
“Am I confident of a central contract? I wouldn’t say so, but I know that part of the reason that we give out central contracts is to look after fast bowlers and things like that.
“If I was to fall into that category, that would be brilliant. Getting looked after by such a superb medical team, they’ve been superb with us.
“They’ve looked after me tremendously well.
“It’s nice to have that support and, of course, with a central contract, you fall into that category where you wouldn’t go back to a county and they wouldn’t run you in- to the ground, and they get to look after you.
“So I wouldn’t say I’m confident because I’ve not played for England for a long time, and throughout this year I probably haven’t deserved to get another one, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
“But, in terms of Durham, I’mfocusingonEnglandatthe momentandI’llseewhathappens there come September.”