WI v ENG 2019: Mark Wood "over the moon" for Test comeback against West Indies

Durbam pacer has replaced Olly Stone in the Joe Root led touring party.

Wood previously played Test cricket in May last year | Getty

Mark Wood is delighted after returning to England's Test squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against West Indies. The right-arm pacer only got his chance because Olly Stone suffered a back injury but he is confident of doing well ahead of the first Test in Barbados from January 24.

"I’m over the moon. Obviously, it’s not nice for Stoney. I’ve been in his position when you get injured and somebody else comes in to replace you, but his loss is my gain. Hopefully, I can go out there and have a positive impact on the team," Wood, who last played at the highest level against Pakistan in May 2018, told talkSPORT

"My first tour was actually to the West Indies with England. Everyone was saying we should roll over them – ‘it will be 3-0’ – but we ended up drawing the series 1-1 and they played some pretty good cricket. They always get up for an England series and it will not be as easy as people think."

"But I do think we are favorites with the exciting squad we’ve got and the performances we’ve just put in in Sri Lanka. It’s not easy to win there, so if we can do that I’m sure we can win in the West Indies."

Wood has earned this re-call after some really good performances for England Lions against Pakistan A in UAE. The 29-year-old reckons it is a very important tour for him, especially with ICC Cricket World Cup as well as the Ashes coming up this summer. 

"For me personally, coming off the back of an England Lions' tour, I worked on a few things and started enjoying my cricket again," the Durham fast bowler further said, "It's important that everyone enjoys their cricket this year, without putting too much pressure on ourselves or trying too hard – that will be to our downfall." 

"The things we've done well last year, the methods, if we continue that, we'll do pretty well. The World Cup, [rather than] just the last few months, it's been four years of preparations since the last one. It's a big time for the country."

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 20 Jan, 2019

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