‘Wood has talent for X-factor comeback’

JIMMY ANDERSON has backed injury-plagued Durham star Mark Wood to rediscover his X-factor and return to an England side ‘desperately needing’ a fast bowler capable of regularly hitting 90mph.

The 26-year-old paceman has suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury which saw him twice undergo surgery last year and is not expected to play this winter after being ruled out of the current tour to Bangladesh.

However, Anderson, 34, himself ruled out of the Test series in Bangladesh with a stress fracture of his shoulder but optimistic that he can play a part in the five-match series against India starting next month, has backed Wood to battle back from his latest setback and add some fire to England’s attack.

‘Woody’s a fantastic talent. England don’t have too many players at the moment who can bowl consistently over 90mph,’ he said. ‘He can do that and he’s got skills as well. He can swing the ball both ways and reverse it as well. We need that kind of X-factor at the moment and that’s why we desperately need him back as soon as possible.

‘It’s tough for him at the moment. He’s still got time on his side to get stronger and come back from this. He’s struggled for a couple of years and not managed to put too many first-class games together. That will be frustrating.

‘But the ECB medical team are fantastic and with their help he’ll come back stronger.’

Anderson — England’s leading wicket taker — had a careerthreatening back injury in his early 20s which forced him to remodel his action after more than six months out injured, six weeks of which were spent wearing a protective corset.

He added: ‘It’s hard. When I found I was going to have at least six months out of the game — six weeks in a corset making sure my back didn’t move too much — it’s quite depressing and you need good people around you. Family, friends and team-mates need to step up to support you.

‘I was lucky enough to have that. My wife was great around that time and the rest of my family and friends.’

Jimmy Anderson was speaking at the Natwest OSCAs