AUS vs ENG 2018: The more I play, I can show people what they are missing: Mark Wood

England are eyeing a whitewash against Australia.

Wood is contemplating a longer run in ODIs. (Getty)

Mark Wood has dismissed the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner in this ODI series, yet he has found it difficult to get a long run in colored clothing for England. When fit and firing, Wood adds pace and incisiveness to England's one-day attack. However, constant injuries has hurt his progress as a professional cricketer for England. 

"I haven't had a chance to show how good I can be," Wood said. "The more I play, I can show people what they are missing. The injury side of things has been without a doubt the worse thing about my career because I can't get any sort of confidence."

"But since I've been here in Australia I have been good with the Lions and then on to here with England. There is only so many times I can say 'I'm feeling good', and at the end of the day I've got to back it up with actions."

Wood has bowled with good pace throughout the first three ODI matches - prompting cries of what might have been had he been fit for the Ashes - and has the best economy rate of all the seamers used on either side. He has only picked up three wickets but in Warner, bounced out in the first match at the MCG, and Smith, dismissed at a crucial time in the third match at the SCG, two of them have been big ones.

If he stays fit between now and the end of the T20I tri-series which follows the ODIs, Wood will come into consideration for a place in England's Test side for the upcoming series against New Zealand in March. He has been named in the squad and no doubt coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Joe Root will be tempted to put him straight in given the extra pace and variety he provides.

Leading the ODI series 3-0, England are fancying a series whitewash against India which will be some achievement for England after their humiliation in the Test series. 

"I think Australians in the past have been ruthless and we want to try and emulate the old Australia teams by keeping up our good form and momentum," Wood said. "We want to really put a statement down and try to win 5-0.

"Hopefully we don't lose that winning feeling. I wasn't part of the Test squad but I was around it and a lot of the lads were hurting. As a one-day group with a few fresh faces we felt we had a point to prove to go out there and show these lads we've got some fighting spirit." concluded the England pacer. 
 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 25 Jan, 2018

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