Wood fitness gives England a crucial boost
Fast bowler’s ankle scan shows no major damage Partnership with Archer seen as massive strength
England expect Mark Wood to get the all-clear and give them a World Cup boost after a scan on his left ankle showed no serious damage.
Wood could bowl only 3.1 overs on Saturday in the 12-run defeat by Australia before leaving the field at the Ageas Bowl complaining of pain in his foot.
Wood’s injury record heightened fears he could be out of the tournament, particularly as he has had three operations on his left ankle and has played only one serious match this summer. But an initial assessment of scans on his ankle and calf were clear and the England medical team are hoping a specialist will today confirm he is fine to start playing again with his pace earmarked as a major weapon in this tournament. Wood clocked over 90mph before he went off injured and his partnership with Jofra Archer will be a massive strength for England.
He will not play against Afghanistan at the Oval today in England’s final warm-up match before Thursday’s opening World Cup game against South Africa.
Several England players have niggles and the management are frustrated they have to play meaningless friendlies having already prepared for the World Cup with a proper five-match ODI series against Pakistan which they won 4-0. They have nothing to gain from these games, but risk collecting further injuries.
Warm-up opposition could be provided by county sides but these games give the broadcasters two more matches involving India and Pakistan, boosting the value of media rights for the International Cricket Council and advertising income for the television stations.
Eoin Morgan has a minor fracture of his left index finger and even though he is making good progress, he is unlikely to play today.
A final decision will be made this morning. Chris Woakes played as a batsman against Australia while he nurses a chronic knee injury, and England are unsure if he will be risked bowling. Liam Dawson cut his right hand against Australia and even though it is not his bowling hand, he is likely to miss the match against Afghanistan. Adil Rashid bowled in the Oval nets yesterday as he builds up his right shoulder after an injection last week.
England were down to the bare bones on Saturday and at one stage assistant coach Paul Collingwood had to field wearing Wood’s kit. It would not be a surprise to see Collingwood, who turned 43 yesterday, fielding again today.
Joe Root will return having missed the Australia match following the death of his grandfather. Jos Buttler will again captain the side in the absence of Morgan.
England’s defeat by Australia did enable Steve Smith to gain confidence from a hundred against the world’s top-ranked one-day side and play his first game in Australian colours since his one-year ban for ball tampering.
He and David Warner, who was also suspended for 12 months, were booed throughout the game, an insight of what to expect for the rest of the summer. Australia knew what was coming but some looked rattled by the reception.
“They’re ruthless. I’ve had two Ashes tours and a one-day series over here and haven’t experienced anything else. They haven’t changed their lines in 12 months,” said Nathan Lyon, the Australia off-spinner.
Lyon stirred up controversy on the last Ashes tour by saying on the eve of the first Test in Brisbane that Australia wanted to “end the careers” of England players but that kind of talk now runs contrary to the new culture Cricket Australia is trying to encourage after the balltampering scandal.
Not many expect it to last long. “It depends who we’re talking about. But we’re not talking about the Ashes at the moment, we’re talking about the World Cup,” said Lyon. “England are favourites, they deserve that the way they’re playing one-day cricket, so I’m not going to come here and cause headlines. I’m going to worry about what we’re doing and we’re training our backsides off and having a lot of fun.” If Afghanistan are at full strength it will give England a chance to face Rashid Khan, the world’s leading T20 spin bowler. Jonny Bairstow played alongside him for Sunrisers Hyderabad and will advise his teammates on what to expect.
“He is a very dangerous bowler. His wrist comes over that quickly,” said Bairstow. “We need to negate that because he will be a big threat. Try to play him as straight as possible will be key.”