Ashes 2019 | Mark Wood expects to be match fit for last two Tests

07/22/2019

Mark Wood, who suffered a side strain during the World Cup final victory over New Zealand, is hopeful to regain fitness for the last two Ashes Tests against Australia. The Durham pacer will be out for up to six weeks and will be under rehabilitation until he recovers from the side strain.

Wood played a key role throughout the World Cup for England and his express pace was a major reason for the team’s success with the ball. However, his propensity to injury far too often resulted in him picking up a side strain and was striving to maintain his bowling speed during his 10 overs in the final against New Zealand. Now, with him being out of the England squad for the Ireland Test and possibly for the first three Ashes Test, he expects to be fit for the last two Tests against the archrivals.

“I might make the last couple [of Tests]. It all depends on selection. Hopefully the injury will have healed by then and I’ll be back with the speed and will have played a few games for Durham,” Wood told BBC 5 Live’s Sportsweek on Sunday.

“My side injury is four to six weeks, so hopefully I’ll still play a part towards the end of the season, but if not it’s been a fantastic summer so far for English cricket. There’s still plenty more to go and hopefully for me there’s still a bit more cricket to play.”

Wood was an integral part of England’s epoch-making World Cup campaign which saw them lifting the trophy for the first time. Wood said it was a brilliant summer of cricket in England and was proud to be part of such an incredible team.

“To be honest, it’s so hard to believe. You’d think by now it would have sunk in but to be world champions, it still gives me goose bumps listening back to it and watching it. I’m still feeling on top of the world. I know I might have an injury, but I didn’t look past the World Cup initially,” Wood added.

“I know the Ashes is round the corner but I’m over the moon that I’ve got the dream of the World Cup.”