Former England captain and commentator Mike Atherton has expressed his concerns over Mark Wood’s elbow injury, as the speedster could manage to bowl just five overs on day three of the ongoing first Test against the West Indies in Antigua.
Wood managed only five overs for England, had to spend a large portion of the match off the field receiving treatment. The elbow injury has often troubled the pacer, and Atherton has compared the fast bowler to his injury-prone teammate, Jofra Archer.
Atherton told Sky Sports, “Right elbow for a fast bowler [is] worrying, think of Jofra Archer. He’s not going to bowl again in this game I wouldn’t have thought and there must be a doubt for Barbados.”
He added, “When you look at the shape of England’s attack, it’s the pace that gives them that extra edge and it’s Mark Wood. Of the three that England fancy- Archer, Olly Stone, and Mark Wood - Mark Wood was the last man standing and now it looks as though he’s injured as well, so it’s a blow for England.”
Well, Wood’s injury is a big concern for England, as the pacer Ollie Robinson was already ruled out of the first Test and he is still in doubt for the second Test after hurting his back in the warm-up match.
On the other hand, England didn’t bring the veteran pace bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson to the West Indies, and the hosts looked strong over the Three Lions following the injury concerns.
(With IANS Inputs)
