Star England paceman Mark Wood is in grave doubt for the first Ashes Test in Perth after suffering a potential hamstring injury in his side’s low-key warm-up fixture.
Wood had returned figures of 0-29 from eight overs before going off the field shortly before tea on Thursday at Lilac Hill.
The 35-year-old was playing his first match since knee surgery in March and will now undergo precautionary scans on his left hamstring.
Although England’s medical team is confident the niggle is not serious, the fact Wood has not been able to get through the three-day match without an injury scare bodes poorly for his chances of being available for the first Test, starting on November 21.
England’s touring scheduleNov 13-15: Warm-up match vs England Lions XI at Lilac HillNov 21-25: First Test vs Australia at Perth StadiumNov 29-30: Warm-up match vs PM’s XI at Manuka OvalDec 4-8: Second Test (D/N) vs Australia at the GabbaDec 17-21: Third Test vs Australia at Adelaide OvalDec 26-30: Fourth Test vs Australia at MCGJan 4-8: Fifth Test vs Australia at SCG
“He has some stiffness in his hamstring, which has kept him off the field for some time during the second session of the first day, and will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow,” England said in a statement.
“He is expected to bowl again in two days’ time. It is unlikely he will return to the field today.”
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The news was much better concerning captain Ben Stokes and express paceman Jofra Archer, both of whom have been under fitness clouds.
Stokes, playing his first match since injuring his shoulder in July, snared four wickets before tea in a strong bowling display.
The injury-plagued Archer, who has played just two Tests over the past four years, had figures of 0-35 across his first 10 overs.
Stokes’s return to the bowling crease would be a huge relief to England, who need the star all-rounder firing on all cylinders to have a chance of upsetting Australia.
England named a full-strength XI for the warm-up match, but interestingly selected spinner Shoaib Bashir as part of the England Lions side.
The 22-year-old has played 19 Tests, including three of the five in England’s recent 2-2 series draw with India.
But his omission from the main England side for the warm-up match could indicate the visitors are unlikely to select him on the pace-friendly Optus Stadium wicket, with Joe Root’s part-time spin an alternative option.
Archer, Wood, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue were named as part of a four-pronged pace attack for the warm-up match, with Stokes adding further firepower.
AAP