Wood comes home to face his big test
MARK WOOD has cut short a frustrating IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings to prepare for the start of the Test summer.
The Durham fast bowler played once for Chennai despite being picked up for £166,000 in the player auction.
He will turn out for his county on Friday aiming to put himself in the frame for England’s upcoming series against Pakistan.
England will name their squad on Tuesday for the first Test, starting on May 24 at Lord’s. And Wood hopes to catch the eye against Derbyshire in the County Championship Division Two match.
Wood, who played in England’s last Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, had one outing in the IPL at the start of April, but his stint with the Super Kings has not worked out as planned.
Yet their loss was Durham’s gain and coach Jon Lewis was delighted that he would be available.
“It’s a massive boost to have Mark,” said Lewis. “Over the last few years he has made some great contributions for us.
“He comes back with a big point to prove and is eager to nail down his spot in the England Test side. The IPL didn’t give him the opportunities he would have liked but he has still learnt from great players and this move suits all parties.” CHRIS FROOME lost 23 seconds after struggling in the final 800m climb on the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia in Sicily yesterday but fellow Briton Simon Yates moved up to third overall.
Belgian Tim Wellens took the win, with Yates fourth on the stage.
Australian Rohan Dennis retained the leader’s pink jersey with a one-second lead over 2017 champion Tom Dumoulin. WEST HAM’s London Stadium will showcase Major League Baseball’s fiercest rivalry next year.
New York Yankees will go head-to-head with Boston Red Sox on June 29 and 30 in front of an estimated 55,000 in the first regular season fixtures to be played in Europe.
It is hoped they will be the forerunners of more games in London in future years.