Wood rubbishes corruption claims

Pace bowler Mark Wood has said allegations of corruption against unnamed England players are “like the boy who cried wolf ”.

The Al Jazeera network released its second documentary about match-fixing on Sunday and, as in the previous programme first shown in May, there were claims made against England players.

The report alleged to have uncovered evidence of 26 planned spot-fixes in 15 international matches including seven involving England players.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has been critical of the information that has been shared with it and says internal analysis has given no cause to doubt the integrity of any of its players, past or present.

Wood has not watched the show but believes the lack of detail is troubling.

“It’s a bit like the boy who cried wolf, and until they say something (definitive) I’m not going to believe what they say,” he said.

“(Not) until Al Jazeera bring out anything concrete, where they name someone or show a piece of evidence. They keep saying there’s this and that there, but never producing anyone or saying there’s any evidence behind it.

“Until they can produce something that I’m worried about then I don’t take any notice of it.”

Durham star Wood, meanwhile, is hoping to make the most of a belated chance to impress in England’s victorious one-day series against Sri Lanka when he is let off the leash in today’s final match in Colombo with England 3-0 ahead.

The 28-year-old has been restricted to a watching brief in the series and said: “It’s been disappointing so far, obviously you want to play, but I’ve not moaned or sulked.

“It’s professional sport.”