Mark Wood ready to hurl ‘thunderbolts’ as England aim Ashes equaliser at Old Trafford

Mark Wood. (Photo Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

England speedster Mark Wood reckoned that he is ready to hurl thunderbolts against Australia in the upcoming fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, which begins on July 19. The Ashes is alive after England’s victory in the third Test at Headingley after losing the first two.

Wood revealed that he told Ben Stokes that he is ready to bowl quick after the English skipper asked the same. On a remarkable return to red-ball action after almost a two-year break from his previous home Test and missing the first two games, he bowled at speeds of over 95 mph in the first innings as the visitors were bundled out for 263 despite Mitchell Marsh’s (118) hard-fought century. He finished with seven wickets in the game and was named Player of the Match in England’s three-wicket win.

“He (Stokes) just asked: ‘Are you ready? Are you ready to bowl some thunderbolts?’ I said yes, and that was it,” Wood was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Wood also stated that he will rest his body and get into a good space since he is playing red-ball cricket for the first time in a long time. He added that he had played four Tests in Australia and will draw on that experience to strive to do so again. He did, however, admit that the primary task is to heal fully before the upcoming Test in Manchester.

“This was my first game in a very, very long time, especially in Test cricket. I will let the body recover, get myself in a good space, let the wounds recover and get myself up for the next one.”

“I did four [Tests] in Australia last time and three of them were in a row. It’s a big ask, but one I’ve done before and I will lean on that experience to try to do it again. I will speak to the physio, but I imagine I will bowl once or twice, do a couple of gym sessions, maybe some running, but it won’t be too drastic. I have to let the body recover,” the fast bowler added.

It fills me with great pride to say I can do well against Australia: Wood

Wood expressed tremendous delight after bowling at exceptional speeds, picking up seven wickets in the third Test, saying that he believes he can do well against Australia in the last two matches. During the third Test, he scored 24 in the first innings and then added a crucial 16* in the second to help England cross the line.

“It fills me with great pride to say I can do well against Australia. Look at facing Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. One, it’s not easy. Two, it’s really intimidating. They’re bowling fast; they get good bounce. More often than not they come out on top. Luckily this time it’s the one out of a hundred I managed to get through,” Wood added.