England seamer Mark Wood admitted that it isn't a guarantee if he will be featuring in the third Ashes Test that is set to take place in Adelaide as his body is no longer able to cope with the effects of constantly bowling at 90mph. Wood, who made his long-awaited Test return in the first Ashes Test, was rested for the second match after he reported pain on his left knee. However, the 36-year-old has now himself casted a doubt over his participation in the third Test.
Wood likely to return for 4th Test
Wood feels that he will likely be able to make a comeback in the Melbourne or Sydney Test. Notably, he has been wearing a kknee brace ever since arriving in Brisbane and is not optimistic that it will be removed in time for the third Ashes Test that will begin from December 17.
"I think there's a chance there, but more realistically, it's probably more Melbourne and then [Sydney] after that. I need to get out of this [brace] first to get moving around. Throughout my career, I've tried to show resilience and keep coming back and keep trying to push it where I can bowl faster and faster, but I'm getting older now," Wood told Channel 7.
"I don't know if my body's not coping with it as well [as it used to] but I'll keep trying. That's something I pride myself on, to keep running in for the team and be a good team man. I'm hoping I can get this right and can charge in again. I'm trying to just get through day-to-day at the minute. Later in the series is what I'm aiming for, but I can't do that much at the minute. I've had a couple of injections, resting up, and slowly but surely, running [will] start soon, then back into bowling. It's more mentally difficult than physically. You've got to try and build it back up and come back again, and that's probably the more difficult thing," he added.
England's abysmal start to Brisbane Test
Meanwhile, England had a horrific start to the pink-ball Test in Brisbane. They lost both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks as Mitchell Starc continued his fiery form in the series. The visitors were down to 5/2 within the first three overs, but were rescued by the duo of Zak Crawley and Joe Root.
They formed a brilliant partnership of 117 runs and provided some much-needed stability to the innings. Michael Neser would go on to break the stand by clinching the wicket of Crawley for 76 and soon after, Harry Brook would depart for a quick-fire 31. This wicket restricted England down to 176/4 and now it is up to the duo of Root and Ben Stokes to take the side's innings forward.