Mark Wood, the right-arm England fast bowler, has come out and stated that there was a great sense of satisfaction and relief in him when he got a call from the England Cricket Board(ECB) national selector Ed Smith that he has been selected for the Test series against Pakistan. 

Recently playing for the Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League, Wood was recently quoted saying, "There was some relief, yeah, It meant I was still in the thoughts of the Test team. I wasn't the forgotten man in India sitting on the bench not playing. Stephen Fleming (head coach at CSK) kept me positive saying I might play if it's reversing or skiddy. But the team was settled because it was going well so I was never likely to get in."

It was very interesting that an injury-prone Mark Wood left early from India to prepare for the start of the Test summer at home before even being selected for the squad. He talked about his move stating, "It was a difficult decision and I was 50-50 whether I leave. Andrew Strauss said if you're not playing there's real value in me coming home to push my case and try to keep my spot in the team. I worked so hard trying to get back in the Test side, meant it was the right decision."

Playing in the county championship round, Wood got the career-best figure of six for 46  and bowled 52 overs in the second innings to prove his fitness. He talked about this and said, "To get that in the bank after four over spells was good. Also, I've had seven months injury free now which I've probably never had before."

"I was trying to prove in the nets. But maybe in hindsight, it was a blessing because when the one-day series came round I was absolutely chomping at the bit to get out there, focussed and ready to go. If I had had a go in the Ashes and it hadn't gone right maybe I wouldn't have started with that bang like I did. One day cricket was a huge plus." 

Woods would be desperate to not let go off this opportunity to cement a place in the Test side alongside the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.