Mark Wood Available For Ashes Opener After Being Cleared Of Hamstring Injury

Mark Wood has been cleared to resume his Ashes preparations aft a scan connected his near hamstring, wherever he had reported immoderate “stiffness” connected Thursday, recovered nary damage.

“Following precautionary scans connected Friday, England accelerated bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of immoderate concerns regarding his near hamstring,” nan England & Wales Cricket Board said successful a statement. “Wood will proceed to train arsenic planned successful nan build-up to nan first Test successful Perth.”

The 33-year-old is expected to beryllium retired Saturday’s 3rd and last time of nan team’s solitary warm-up fixture, against nan Lions astatine Lilac Hill connected nan outskirts of Perth, but will beryllium disposable for action erstwhile nan first Test gets nether measurement astatine Perth Stadium adjacent Friday.

The news will travel arsenic a immense alleviation to an England campy that has identified high-pace bowling arsenic their astir apt way to occurrence successful nan Ashes, cautiously nursing nan injury-prone Wood and Jofra Archer done a succession of injuries and backmost to afloat fittingness successful clip to subordinate nan squad successful Australia.

Brydon Carse, whose engagement crossed nan first 2 days against nan Lions was constricted to facing 3 balls pinch nan bat precocious connected Friday aft reporting tummy issues nan erstwhile morning, will play a afloat portion successful nan game’s conclusion aft making a afloat recovery.