England insist Mark Wood will not be carrying an damage into the essential remaining day of the Ashes at The Oval, as they hope rain can this time play into their favour towards Australia.
The most harmful bowler of the sequence previously two-and-a-half Tests, Wood was held again from bowling till Australia have been 0-99 in pursuit of 384 on Sunday.
The speedster then despatched down three overs, struck Usman Khawaja on the again of the helmet, and left the sphere on the finish of his spell with figures of 0-16.
Play was known as off shortly after when rain washed out the afternoon, with Australia 0-135 and in command of the chase.
Wood’s low workload prompted fears he was carrying an damage, after an eight-year profession dotted with setbacks and restricted to 30 Tests.
But assistant coach Marcus Trescothick insisted that was not the case, and claimed the choice to carry Wood again till the thirty third over over was merely tactical.
“He’s fit to bowl,” Trescothick stated.
“I think pretty much like everybody, there’s little aches and pains that are going off the back of a big five-Test series.
“Both groups can be travelling in the identical method in the meanwhile. But, yeah, everyone seems to be match to bowl. It was a tactical choice.”
A week after rain ended England’s chances of regaining the Ashes at Old Trafford, the hosts are now hopeful it can come to their aid at The Oval.
Scattered showers are forecast again for Monday, and England must take 10 wickets while on the field to level the Ashes 2-2 and deny Australia a series victory.
But the hosts can see an upside to it given they have an ageing attack that has been asked to bowl far more than Australia in this series.
James Anderson turned 41 on Sunday, Stuart Broad is 37 and playing his last Test, Moeen Ali is 36 and battling a groin injury and Chris Woakes is aged 34.
Wood is the youngest bowler at 33, but England have generally tried to keep him to short, sharp spells in this series.
“The bowlers get a bit extra time to place toes up (if it rains), get a bit extra work with the masseurs and physios,” Trescothick stated.
“It’s tougher to bat when you’ve these interruptions, due to the on-off scenario of focus.
“You can always be a little bit fresher, and ready for each session or each spell when you get back out there.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
