England's Ashes campaign has hit a major hurdle with star fast bowler Mark Wood racing against time to be fit for the first Test after breaking down with hamstring trouble during the tour match against English Lions.
Injury Cloud Hovers Over Key Quick
Mark Wood left the field midway through the opening day at Lilac Hill Park after delivering just eight overs, with team management confirming the paceman was experiencing stiffness in his hamstring. The concerning development came during England's crucial warm-up game in Perth, casting serious doubts over his availability for the Test match beginning next week.
Medical staff scheduled scans for Wood's left leg on Friday, with even a minor strain likely to rule him out of contention for the series opener. The results are expected to determine whether England will need to reshuffle their bowling attack dramatically.
England's Bowling Woes Deepen
The potential loss of Wood compounds England's growing concerns about their ability to take 20 Australian wickets. During Thursday's play, the tourists' frontline pace battery of Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue were comprehensively handled by the Lions batsmen, conceding 382 runs between them on a benign pitch.
Only captain Ben Stokes emerged with credit from the difficult day, claiming six wickets while his fellow bowlers struggled for impact. The performance highlighted the gulf in form between England's attack and what will be required against Australia's powerful batting lineup.
Archer's Preparation Under Scrutiny
Further complicating England's planning are ongoing questions about Jofra Archer's match readiness. Despite arriving in Western Australia a week ahead of the main squad, Archer wasn't sighted at training sessions until the full team had landed, drawing criticism about his preparation methods.
This contrasted sharply with skipper Stokes, who was observed putting in extensive work alongside both batsmen and bowlers in the lead-up to the tour match. The different approaches have raised eyebrows among cricket observers monitoring England's Ashes preparations.
As the injury drama unfolded, England's batsmen resumed their innings on Friday with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett - both confirmed to face Australia next week - taking guard at Lilac Hill Park.
