Ben Stokes termed irrelevant as Michael Vaughan names the most important England player

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that Mark Wood's quality and skills make him a very important player for England's Test team. Vaughan even claimed that Wood is more important than Stokes on a flat pitch.

Mark Wood suffered a right thigh muscle injury during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Manchester. Subsequently, he was ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the series.

Wood bowled just 10.2 overs in Sri Lanka's second innings and returned figures of 1-36. He left the field midway through his 11th over of the innings. However, Chris Woakes put his hands up and picked up 3-58 to stop a fine Sri Lankan comeback.

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Michael Vaughan feels Mark Wood is more important than Ben Stokes

According to Michael Vaughan, Mark Wood is even more important than Ben Stokes in England's Test team. He reckons that Wood's injury is a big blow to England and they don't have a replacement for him.

“When you get on a flat pitch, Mark Wood is the most important player for England's Test match team. Yes, even more than Ben Stokes. Wood is that good - and his injury that rules him out of the rest of the series against Sri Lanka is a blow.

"Stokes is a colossus. Talismanic, an incredible leader, a brilliant player. But I just can't see how England can replace Wood. He's just got something very special about him," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

The former England skipper further gave an example of how the conditions can get flat at times. He reckoned that the upcoming tour of Pakistan could have flat pitches and Wood's role would be important in those conditions.

"How much England miss him was evident on the fourth morning with that fantastic partnership from Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis when the pitch got flat and it became much easier for batting."

"We might get a lot of those conditions in the next year or so - definitely in Pakistan, and maybe a bit in New Zealand too. England need to find a way to take 20 wickets on wickets like that," Vaughan added.

"England have got to wrap him (Mark Wood) in cotton wool" - Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan further suggested that Wood needs to be wrapped in cotton wool to make him available for the big matches in India and Australia.

He added that the fast bowler needs to be given a proper rest as he cannot sustain after playing every match.

"The point of difference that Wood brings is so important. England have got to wrap him in cotton wool to try and get him available for 60 or 70 percent of Tests in the next year."

"Realistically, having Wood available that much would be a great outcome for England. A bowler like him is never going to be able to play every single game," Vaughan further wrote in his column.

"Wood is now the most important cog in this England Test match wheel for them to go and beat India, for them to go and win in Australia. He's the player that opponents would most like to see not in the England side," he added.

Mark Wood's performance in 1st Test

Mark Wood is one of England's fastest bowlers right now along with Jofra Archer. Wood can clock speeds of close to 150 kmph consistently, which makes him an X-factor for this England team.

He picked up 1-31 in the first innings of the Test and picked up one more wicket in the second innings. England will hope to have him fit and ready for the upcoming tour of Pakistan where his role is going to be crucial.

Coming to the match, England defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets despite a spirited fight by the visitors. With this win, England have taken a 1-0 lead in the series with two more matches to go.