Wood: I can bring pace to England attack
Mark Wood might not boast the powerlifter’s physique of Shannon Gabriel but he is confident he can bring the same raw pace to England’s bowling attack.
England need to find a new formula in St Lucia next week as they look to salvage some pride from a series that has seen them mercilessly thrashed in the first two Tests, and Wood is in contention for a recall.
The Durham man admits it would be “harsh” to change the bowlers when more fundamental problems exist in the batting, but with the West Indies seamers consistently quicker than England’s it is a valid point of discussion.
The strapping Trinidadian Gabriel has been the most menacing paceman on either side, with a fastest ball of almost 94mph, while none of the tourists have troubled the 90mph barrier.
“I haven’t got Shannon Gabriel’s muscles but maybe I could bowl as quick as him ... I still think I can,” said Wood, who generates his pace from a slighter frame and with a skiddier trajectory.
“The one (ODI) game I played in Sri Lanka in October, the speed gun was high. You’d have to to ask our batters, but it feels like it’s coming out alright. We’ll be able to see if I play.”
The 29-year-old has been a regular in the limited-overs squad over the past four years and, with a home World Cup around the corner, his hopes of a red-ball recall appeared to be receding. But a heart to heart with head coach Trevor Bayliss and an injury to Olly Stone nudged the door back open.
“I would never give up my hope of playing Test cricket,” said Wood.
“I spoke to Trevor at the end of the Sri Lanka tour and said that I wanted to be part of the red-ball Lions team in the UAE. He agreed and he wanted me to step up. In most of the games I feel I did that.”