Ashes 2015: 'Mark Wood should replace James Anderson'
Wood used to intensity of Ashes cricket, says Hussain
Saturday 1 August 2015 13:41, UK
Nasser Hussain says England should recall Mark Wood for the fourth Ashes Test with the "irreplaceable" James Anderson out injured.
Liam Plunkett and uncapped Derbyshire left-armer Mark Footitt have been called into Alastair Cook's squad ahead of the game in Nottingham.
But Hussain says England should turn back to Wood, who played in the first two Ashes Tests before being substituted for Steve Finn in Birmingham.
"In the intensity of an Ashes series you want someone who has already been there – Wood knows the Aussie batsmen, the Aussie plans and I like his attitude."
"Cook has said Anderson’s injury gives a chance to someone else and he is right, but it is a huge loss because Anderson is irreplaceable," said Hussain.
"There is not another Anderson in England – there hasn’t been for a decade – and he is the leader of the attack who other bowlers follow.
"Footitt has good stats, but I would bring Wood in. In the intensity of an Ashes series you want someone who has already been there and Wood knows the Aussie batsmen, the Aussie plans, plus I like his attitude.
"Whoever England pick, I hope they don’t get defensive now they are 2-1 up and prepare flat pitches - Lord’s showed that’s the wrong way to go."
England’s Edgbaston triumph was secured on Friday by an unbroken third-wicket stand of 73 between Ian Bell (65no) and Joe Root (38no).
Having been shunted up to the No 3 position, Bell’s half century was his second of the game and Hussain feels that switch was critical in Cook’s men moving 2-1 up in the series with two matches to play.
"They have come to a pitch that has done a bit but by moving Bell up the order they changed the tempo of the No 3 spot," Hussain said of England, who had Gary Ballance batting in that berth in Cardiff and at Lord’s.
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"By going in with an attacking mindset they have immediately stopped that run of 30-3, 40-3, 50-4, something you can easily do on this track, as we saw with Australia.
"It was good for Bell to come his home ground, after being out of nick, but it was also good for England to come here.
"They have now won seven of their last 11 Tests at Edgbaston – and only lost one – and the crowd really get behind them on this ground, especially when they are playing well."
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