- Archer is hoping to feature in the second Test with Wood targeting the fifth
- The fast bowlers have been working their way back from respective injuries
- Wood and Archer have only featured together in one Test match for England
Mark Wood says he is ‘excited’ by the prospect of forming a dream pace partnership with Jofra Archer – but insists neither should expect to walk straight back into the England team.
The injury-prone pair have only ever played one Test together, a home defeat to West Indies in the behind-closed-doors Covid series of 2020.
But the country’s fastest bowlers are both nearing an England comeback, with Archer named in the squad for the second Test against India, and Wood targeting the fifth Test next month.
Even if this summer comes too soon for Archer and Wood to line up together, England are desperate to have both 2019 World Cup heroes fit and firing for the Ashes in Australia this winter.
‘It would be lovely to play with him,’ admitted Wood. ‘He seems in great spirits and great shape. It’s going to be a massive summer and winter ahead for him.
‘It is exciting, but you cannot look too far ahead and neither of us have got a right to just walk into the team.
‘We’ve got to make sure we are firing, up to speed and bowling at our maximum – 90mph-plus – and offering something to the captain and the team.
‘You can’t just expect to play when these lads are currently in the team and doing well. You’ve got to earn your spot and I’m sure me and Jofra will be out to do that.
‘But it would be exciting to be able to go to Australia with a pack of fast bowlers. Australia have had those three or four fast bowlers for a long time. It would be nice for us to bring our own.
Archer returned from a thumb injury in the County Championship for Sussex this week and is now being primed to play against India at Edgbaston, which would be his first Test since February 2021.
Wood, meanwhile, is still recovering from the knee surgery he had in March. But the Durham quick is now back bowling in the nets and thinks he could be ready to feature for England in the last match of the India series.
‘I have bowled five times now, not off a big run-up’ said Wood. ‘I saw the surgeon last week and he said it looks great and all is on track.
‘I am still aiming for that fifth Test. It’s probably 50-50 at the moment. I have still got a bit to go and there are plenty of other bowlers around.
‘We don’t want to feel like we are competing against each other. It’s a rounded group, where they can do damage against India, and I can do damage against Australia. That’s what we are hoping for.’
In Wood’s absence, Josh Tongue was England’s most successful quick bowler at Headingley, taking seven wickets in the match, including a triple-wicket maiden in India’s second innings.
And Wood thinks the way Tongue twice cleaned up India’s tail will play on the tourists’ minds for the remainder of the series.
‘If you are a wicket-taker who can knock over the tail, that is a great trait,’ added Wood. ‘For him to have done it twice, when we go into the next game, the Indian lower order will be thinking, “Here we go again”.’
Mark Wood and Tammy Beaumont were speaking at the launch of an ECB trailer for the England v India series, directed by Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha. Tickets are available at www.ecb.co.uk/tickets
