Wood vows to take fight to Kiwis

England’s batsmen have raised the bar with their all-out attack in the Royal London Series – but fastbowler Mark Wood has taken it upon himself to make sure he too is an aggressor against New Zealand.

Fours and sixes are one way of breaking opposition down and there have been plenty in a contest tied at 2-2 approaching a Durham decider in which the runs aggregate appears set to pass 3,000 for the first time in any five-match series.

But wickets are a priceless currency too, and the one that interests Wood as he seeks to have a say in his first international appearance on his home ground.

The Durham seamer has timed his run to prominence perfectly, in Test as well as one-day international cricket at the start of an Ashes summer, and knows a haul of wickets here can help England to a heartening series victory and also press his claims to feature against Australia next month.

A sell-out crowd will pack into Emirates Durham ICG, doubtless happy at the prospect of having to dodge some big hits into the stands.

But it is Wood’s intention to ensure few Kiwi batsmen get set long enough to do much of the hitting.

“My role as the attacking option is to fight fire with fire,” said the 25-year-old. “If they’re going to come hard, I’m going to come hard as well as try to get them out.”

Mark Wood is relishing his first international at home.