Former English skipper Joe Root has admitted that Mark Wood will do everything in his capacity to regain fitness for the ongoing Ashes. Wood will not feature in the upcoming pink-ball Test in Brisbane owing to a knee problem.
Root acknowledged that he did not know the situation surrounding Wood but expressed confidence that the pacer will try his best to get back to the required fitness level and start bowling soon.
"I don't know the full ins and outs with Woody, but you know with him, he'll do everything
he can to be as ready as soon as possible. He's very professional in that regard. He's desperate to do well for England. He'll put everything out on the field, leave no stone unturned. He wants to bowl as fast as he can, as often as possible, in England," stated Root while speaking to the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Root said that he was not sure by when Wood would recover fully, noting that the bowler substituting him in the second Test will have an opportunity of making the spot his own.
"In terms of him getting ready, I don't know when it'll be. Whether that's days or weeks, we'll see. But clearly if he does miss out, then that provides a brilliant opportunity for someone to come in. What a great stage to go and perform on, and great opportunity. A lot can happen quite quickly. You can have a real influence on the game. That's the carrot there for whoever it is that gets the opportunity if he's not available," he added.
Englandare coming off an eight-wicket defeat in the series-opening clash in Perth. Wood, playing his first Test after more than a year, bowled only 11 overs across both innings and was unable to secure a wicket.
Wood did not attend England's first training session in Brisbane on Saturday, November 29. He was the only one among the 13 team members for the Three Lions to not show up for practice at the Allan Border Field.
