England have dominated Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford and it appears the rain is the only thing which can prevent Ben Stokes’ side from levelling the series and setting up a one-Test shootout at the Oval
Only the rain can stop Mark Wood from bringing the thunder to the men from Down Under this weekend.
And for an Aussie team all but out of ideas who have been clinging desperately to what they have – which happens to be the Ashes and a series lead – the sight of a downpour on Saturday morning will bring blessed relief. For the trio of saggy green men who had to face down England’s Northern powerhouse on Friday and were sent back to the dressing room, they’ve already seen things that they won’t want to scare their grandchildren with in years to come.
Wood might be the most genial and gentle soul in the England team off the field, but his express pace is the stuff of nightmares for opposition batters on it. And yet it is the cruel reality of injuries and what it takes for Wood to operate at such speeds that it was only with the wicket of Steve Smith, caught down the legside hooking, that brought up the 100th scalp of his career.
Since his debut in 2015, Wood has played just 30 of the 110 Tests that England have played and he almost never fails to make an impact. And if the weather and the Aussies are to be beaten over the next 48 hours, it will be Wood at the heart of the onslaught – perhaps even helping the ground staff to peel back the covers if it would make the difference.