AGONY FOR WOOD
England paceman’s ankle injury flares up again
Mark Wood was under another injury cloud last night as England sent their fastest bowler for a scan on the left ankle that has already needed three operations.
Wood missed the first one-day international in Hamilton with a ‘niggle’ but yesterday it became clear the chronic problem that has raised doubts over his career is troubling him again.
England insisted the scan is precautionary, but it must be a concern the 28-year-old is feeling an injury that refuses to go away and let him continue what could be an outstanding career.
The durham fast bowler was restored to England’s squad for the two Tests against New Zealand that conclude this tour and also picked up an Indian Premier League deal with Chennai Super kings that could now be under threat. It is another cruel blow for a bowler of rare talent who took the wicket that clinched the 2015 ashes at Trent Bridge.
Yet Wood (right) simply cannot stay fit and England will be anxiously awaiting results, although he could train today in preparation for the second one-day international here tomorrow.
England lacked potency without Wood and the injured Liam Plunkett in their opening defeat in Hamilton and might bring in Craig overton for the second match at The Bay oval.
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, the most gifted of England’s big-hitting generation, insists he is not about to join the white-ball revolutionaries who have turned their backs on the first-class game.
The impression given by Buttler this winter is that he could follow the white- ball paths of adil rashid and alex Hales by declaring any chance he has of playing Test cricket again is over.
Not so, insisted England’s best limited- overs batsman. asked after the three-wicket defeat in Hamilton whether he had thought about becoming a white-ball specialist, Buttler, 27, admitted: ‘Yes, sometimes, but at the moment I’m happy with my situation. I still have Test ambitions.
‘I haven’t played a great deal of red-ball cricket and whether that opportunity will come again will depend on performances. at the end of this summer I’ll be available for quite a bit of Championship cricket (for Lancashire), so if I’m going to get back in that’s when I need to score runs.
‘It’s not easy to play in all three formats now, which is why only the best players do.’ Buttler remains in that category but he knows England’s best players, including himself, will have to improve if they are to stop New Zealand gaining a record-equalling 10th straight odI victory tonight.
SouTH afrICa’ s Morne Morkel, 33, will retire from international cricket after the forthcoming Test series against australia. The paceman has a chance of becoming only the fifth South african to reach 300 Test wickets, having taken 294 in 83 matches.