Mark Wood’s injury scare adds to England’s woes ahead of 3rd Test vs India
England are fretting over the availability of pacer Mark Wood for the 3rd Test against India at Trent Bridge, starting August 24 due to a shoulder injury.
Coach Chris Silverwood said England will take a call after consulting with the medics closer to the start of the Test but he maintained that he will not push Wood into playing the 3rd Test.
The express paceman injured his shoulder while diving to save a boundary on Day 4 of the 2nd Test. Wood landed heavily on his right shoulder while diving headlong into an advertising hoarding. Despite showing discomfort, Wood bowled on Day 5, hitting speeds in excess of 90kmph.
England are set to announce their squad for the 3rd Test on Wednesday and all eyes will be on Wood’s selection, considering England are already without three of their leading pacers in Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone and all-rounder Ben Stokes who took a mental health break.
“The medics are working on him (Wood), we’ll find out more in the next couple of days,” England coach Chris Silverwood said.
“We will make a decision, along with him and our medics, closer to the time. But if he’s not right, he’s not right. I certainly won’t push him into playing if he tells me he’s not right. I will look after him.”
Mark Wood bowled 24 overs in the first innings of the Lord’s Test and picked up 2 wickets. Wood braved the shoulder niggle in the 2nd innings and gave England a fine start by removing India openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul before sending Cheteshwar Pujara back to the pavilion. He aggravated his injury by tumbling on his follow-through on the final day.
England need some inspiration from somewhere after their crushing defeat to India at Lord’s. Heading into Day 5 in a dominant position, England surrendered the advantage when they allowed Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami to add 89 runs for the 9th wicket.
Later in the final day, England were bundled out for 120 in just 51.5 overs as India went on to seal a 151-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.
