Ashes 2021-22: The Circumstances Of This Difficult Tour Have Not Diminished Mark Wood: Michael Atherton

Former England player Michael Atherton hailed England pacer Mark Wood for his performance in the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney against Australia.

Wood picked three wickets in the fourth Test, including the twin dismissals of Australian batter Marnus Labushagne, who has troubled the England bowlers in the first couple of matches.

The Durham player was also involved in a 72-run stand with Jonny Bairstow that helped England to avoid follow-on from Australia’s mammoth score of 416 in the first innings. Wood made 39 from 41 balls and clobbered two fours and three sixes in his handy cameo for England.

Wood has claimed eight wickets from three matches in this series so far and missed the Adelaide Test.

Michael Atherton appreciates Mark Wood’s bowling spirit

England have already lost the series 0-3 and so their hopes to win their first Ashes in Down Under since 2010-11. Many experts and fans blasted the England team management for their selection criteria.

However, Atherton feels that the outcome and circumstances of England’s Ashes tour hasn’t diminished Wood.

“Few have enhanced their reputations here, but Wood is one. Australians love a battler. Wood’s evident spirit and spunk has been plain to see in the furious way he has bowled and in his gung-ho batting here that helped England to get beyond the follow-on mark. The circumstances of this difficult tour have not diminished him,” Atherton wrote in his column for the Sunday Times.

Michael Atherton hopes Mark Wood plays in Hobart Test

The fifth Test between Australia and England will be played in Hobart and Atherton feels that if Wood gets to play that match he will prove his physical conditioning.

“Typically, Australia is a tour that breaks bodies and minds. Who knows what combination they will put out in Hobart, but if Wood plays, it will equal the most he has played in a Test series before and it will be a testament to his physical conditioning. It will also be an indictment of his non-selection in Adelaide when the series was alive,” Atherton wrote.

England were 216/5 after 84 overs on the final day of the Sydney Test, the visitors applied dogged resistance to salvage a draw.

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: Not Many Positives From This Tour But Zak Crawley Is Certainly One Who Needs To Be Given A Long Run – Michael Vaughan