By Tim Wigmore
Mark Wood believes that he could play alongside Jofra Archer in the same side in the Twenty20 World Cup, raising the tantalising prospect of England unleashing two express bowlers in the Caribbean.
Wood and Archer played in tandem in 10 out of 11 games during England’s 2019 World Cup victory, which was Archer’s last appearance in a world event. In Archer’s absence, the Durham quick played an important role in England’s T20 World Cup win in Australia in 2022, taking nine wickets in four games.
While Wood did not feature in England’s win over Pakistan on Saturday – their only match of the series so far, with the other two games abandoned without a ball being bowled – he hopes to play alongside Archer during the T20 World Cup defence.
“I’ve played with Jofra before, and I don’t see it’s like me or him,” Wood said.
“I don’t see why we can’t play together. We played together at the 2019 World Cup and things went pretty well. I don’t see why we can’t play in the same team, but maybe it’s up to the management to manage our bodies and see how we get through the tournament.”
Wood hailed Archer’s form since his return to the squad. Archer took 2-28 against Pakistan on Saturday, reaching 90mph in his first international for 14 months. But he said that there is no rivalry between the two about who can bowl quicker.”
“I just want to let Jofra bowl, let him get back into things – show what he’s made of and capable of without having to push and say I bowled faster than that. I think for both of us it’s just stay fit, take wickets and try to affect games.
Wood admitted that he was frustrated about how rain had disrupted England’s T20 World Cup preparations, with their opening match against Scotland in Barbados on Tuesday. There is a further risk of rain at The Oval tomorrow, meaning that England could play only one match during their scheduled four-match T20 series against Pakistan. The series is England’s first in T20 cricket this year.
“Obviously it’s not ideal when you schedule four games and we might only get one or two,” he said. “One or two of us might feel like we need a game or two to get going, but there will be no excuses. It’s coming round thick and fast. Whatever preparation we get, that’s what we’re going to have to go with.”
Wood also said that he is happy with his own recovery from a knee injury.
“I actually feel like I’m getting to the stage where I’m off my full run, I’m ready to play. I was going to play this last game in Cardiff. I feel I was in a position to bowl quickly and test it out – really happy with where I’ve managed to get it to.”
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