England pacer Mark Wood has said that he is loving his role as the enforcer for the team in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 series, which Australia lead by 3-0. His words came ahead of the fifth and final Test match in Hobart.
The day-night match begins Friday and is England's last chance to salvage something from the five-Test series. The visitors saved some face after they hung on to a draw in Sydney with one wicket in hand.
Wood is the fastest bowler on either side, especially with Jofra Archer missing in action, which has given Joe Root an attacking weapon. Often injury-prone in the past, Wood said he hadn't expected to play four Tests but his fitness work had allowed him to keep up his pace.
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"I have worked hard on my fitness and I have had a desire deep down to keep bowling fast and keep running in and to be the only fast bowler here to offer a point of difference. I've got that responsibility on my shoulders and I've actually enjoyed it that I've got to keep charging in. I've got to keep doing that side of things for the team and hopefully, I can keep my speeds up for another game," Wood, who is England's second-leading wicket-taker for the series with eight, said.
Wood has made Marnus Labuschagne his bunny, dismissing him thrice in the four Tests.
"We're still getting battered -- it would be a moral victory if he was getting out and we were winning. He's still contributing to their team winning. They're still getting more scores than we are and we're not bowling them out,” Wood said.
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England will not name their team until Friday, giving injured pair Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow as much time as possible to prove their fitness.
"They're in good spirits so far. They've seemed happy and trained as normal. Everyone knows they are carrying niggles and knocks, but everyone knows they are two characters who don't want to give up easily. We'll just have to see how they pull up in training tonight,” Wood said.
(AFP inputs)
