Wood hoping to make own mark for England

MARK Wood accepts England’s Twenty20 whitewash over South Africa meant his own omission from the series proved “the right call” but is raring to reassert himself with a leading role in the next leg of the tour.

England kept an unchanged XI throughout the 3-0 victory as they looked to build towards next year’s T20 World Cup, leaving Wood, Moeen Ali, Sam Billings and Reece Topley on the outside looking in.

Things are due to change for the three-match one-day series starting tomorrow, with Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran and Chris Jordan all excused following their excursions in the Indian Premier League.

Paceman Wood has more reason than most to be look forward to it, having featured in just six of England’s 21 internationals since the sport returned from its coronavirus shutdown – a frustrating return for a three-format player at the peak of his powers.

“It’s hard to get into this team and you’ve got to take your chance when you get it,” he said.

“If I’m in form and firing, I’d like to think I could hold my spot, but that’s down to me. I had a conversation with (captain) Eoin Morgan before the first game and he was saying it’s a tough call.

“It wasn’t anything I did wrong, they thought I was preparing well, it was just the gut feeling he had and the team he went with.

“That’s international sport. We’ve just won 3-0 here... it proved to be the right call.”

Asked if he was inclined to let any disappointment show, he said: “Yeah, I think so, a little bit. ‘Miffed’ is a great word.

“If I want a reason for why I was left out or how I could get better or stay in the team, he would give me that answer.

“It’s not about banging on his door or trying to knock it down.”