AUS vs ENG: Mark Wood's Return Offers The Most Optimism- Michael Atherton Ahead Of Third Ashes Test

Former England captain Michael Atherton has said he is expecting a lot from Mark Wood in the upcoming third Ashes Test against Australia. The third match will be getting underway on Thursday (July 6) at Headingley.

Wood is one of three players who have been included in the playing eleven after the loss in the second Test. The right-arm pacer has not played any game in the series so far and would be desperate to prove himself in the third Test as England desperately seek a win to keep the series alive. The hosts have lost the first two games and need to win the third game to keep their hopes alive.

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Along with Wood, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali have also been included in the playing eleven. Both Wood and Woakes will be playing their first game of the series while Ali was a part of the playing eleven for the series opener at Edgbaston.

Michael Atherton on Mark Wood:

Mark Wood has a good track record against Australia. The speedster was one of the very few positives for England when they suffered a crushing 4-0 loss in the 2021 Ashes in Australia. The tearaway pacer had finished the series with 17 wickets from 4 games including the stunning spell of 6-37 in the series finale in Hobart.

And while only time will tell how Wood performs, Michael Atherton has high hopes for him. Writing in his column for The Times, the former batsman called Wood’s inclusion in the playing eleven as the most significant one among the three changes. Michael Atherton also wrote about veteran pacer James Anderson’s exclusion.

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“Wood will be significantly quicker than anyone else in the series so far and he enjoyed success last winter against some of Australia’s key batsmen. It is his return that offers the most optimism.”

“The absence of James Anderson reflects on the schedule but also the Lancastrian’s inability thus far to make any dents in Australia’s line-up. He will surely return at Old Trafford,” wrote Atherton.

England have not won the Ashes since the victory at home way back in 2015. Since then, they have lost the series twice while drawing the home series in 2019. Any other result apart from a win in the third Test will mean that they will have to wait for at least one more series to reclaim the Ashes.

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