England’s Mark Wood aims to unleash more Ashes ‘thunderbolts’ vs Australia at Old Trafford | Cricket News

England fast Mark Wood is keen to hit Australia with more “thunderbolts” in Manchester subsequent week and aims to show “lightning strikes twice” after his Headingley heroics.

Wood marked his return to Ashes cricket with a stirring player-of-the-match displaying in Leeds, taking match figures of 7-100 and hitting 40 very important runs from simply 16 deliveries.

His efforts helped change the tone of the collection, getting England on the board after back-to-back defeats and leaving the trail open for the hosts to reclaim the urn in opposition to all odds.

Wood’s uncooked tempo supplied an X-factor that had been absent at Edgbaston and Lord’s, together with his first ball of the match doubling up as England’s quickest of the summer time.

He continued cranking it up in his first red-ball outing for seven months, at one stage reaching 96.5mph throughout a ferocious opening spell, and Australia’s batting appeared fully much less assured due to his mere presence on the park.

Wood revealed his England captain and Durham team-mate Ben Stokes had given him one easy instruction when he let him unfastened.

“Ben just asked me, ‘Are you ready? Are you ready to bowl some thunderbolts?’ I said yes and that was it,” he mentioned.

“He was ready to unleash me. I know him well and he knows me well. Having that relationship with someone makes it easier.”

Asked if he was prepared to dish out more of the identical at Emirates Old Trafford subsequent Wednesday, Wood replied with a smile: “Absolutely. Lightning strikes twice, eh?”

Wood is arguably essentially the most constantly quick bowler ever to play for England, a crown he probably lacks solely due to the absence of correct historic knowledge.

But the sheer bodily exertion the 33-year-old places himself via means he has had to endure lengthy spells out of the aspect.

Since debuting in 2015 he has performed simply 29 of England’s 109 Tests, lacking lots of these via harm, but Wood has set his sights on ending strongly this summer time.

There are simply three days between the fourth and fifth video games of the collection, however, with per week to get himself prepared, he totally intends to be on parade for each.

“I did four in Australia last time and three of them were in a row. It’s a big ask, but one I’ve done before and I will lean on that experience to try to do it again,” he mentioned.

“I will speak to the physio, but I imagine I will bowl once or twice, do a couple of gym sessions, maybe some running, but it won’t be too drastic. I have to let the body recover.

“This was my first recreation in a really, very very long time, particularly in Test cricket. I’ll let the physique get well, get myself in a great house, let the injuries get well and get myself up for the following one.”

Wood wears his heart on his sleeve on and off the field and could not hide his satisfaction at taking up a starring role midway through a contest that has captured the imagination of the public.

“It fills me with nice delight to say I can do effectively in opposition to Australia. It’s difficult as a result of they’re a high, high aspect,” he said.

“It’s probably the greatest emotions I’ve had. Look at dealing with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. One, it isn’t straightforward. Two, it is actually intimidating.

“They’re bowling fast, they get good bounce and more often than not they come out on top. Luckily this time it’s the one out of 100 I’ve managed to get through.

“The 2005 Ashes was absolutely the pinnacle for me – I used to be at an important age, a young person, and my hometown hero (Steve Harmison) was enjoying.

“I don’t feel like it’s to that magnitude, but it’s great to have the support, which has been amazing everywhere we’ve been. You feel it on the street walking around, people messaging you. It’s amazing as a nation that we can carry this weight of support with us.”