Mark Wood was “surprised but pleased” to learn he is unlikely to get any cotton wool treatment from Brendon McCullum despite the important challenges on the horizon for England.
Wood is set for his third T20 in six days with England unchanged for a pivotal outing in Rajkot as they seek to keep the five-match series against India alive on Tuesday, having fallen 2-0 down in Chennai.
After this white-ball tour is the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, while England have a home Test series against India in the summer plus next winter’s Ashes that could define McCullum’s reign as head coach.
“I was surprised but pleased,” Wood said, reacting to McCullum’s comments. “We’ve got big things (this year) but I’ve missed so many games for England that, when you have a chance, you want to play.”
Wood, who turned 35 this month, is at the start of his latest comeback, having been out since last August with a minor thigh problem followed by the more serious issue of bone stress in his right elbow.
He was initially told not to lift his children with his right arm but while Wood did not fear he would lose his ability to bowl 95mph-plus deliveries, there were other concerns with being out for so long.
“The question is whether I can still be as good or consistent or accurate,” Wood said.
“But I haven’t got many miles on my clock. I work hard on my fitness, I worked hard in that downtime. One percenters like not drinking, trying to eat well, all plays a small part.
“I was a late developer in cricket, I wasn’t bowling quickly until my early 20s. I don’t see why I can’t keep bowling quickly in the short-term.”
Wood was key to England’s 2019 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil and the 2022 T20 equivalent in Australia, while he claimed the wicket that sealed his nation’s last Ashes triumph a decade ago.
The next 12 months offer several opportunities to add to his legacy and a blockbuster Ashes in Australia might feel like a logical end point, with Wood admitting the thought has crossed his mind.
We have named an unchanged team for our third T20I v India as we look to pull one back in the series ?
The game will get underway at 13:30 GMT (19:00 local) in Rajkot tomorrow ⏰ pic.twitter.com/5LQJPO3s5B
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2025
“I would feel that as well, thinking this is the age people usually stop,” he said.
“I think when you look at what’s coming up, you think could that be the end or could this be the last time I play here? You just don’t know and I think, as you get older, that creeps in more.
“When I was in my mid-20s or when I first started for England, I never thought that would be the case. Now, there’s all these young guns coming through, am I still at the standard required to play for England?
“I have belief in myself and as long as the close circle around you, McCullum, the captain, your team-mates, believe in you as well then that gives you confidence.”
