Mark Wood drafted into England Lions squad
Tuesday 12 July 2016 15:14, UK
Mark Wood has been added to the England Lions squad for the Tri-Series against the A-teams of Sri Lanka and Pakistan which starts in Cheltenham next Monday.
The Durham and England fast bowler is in the early stages of his comeback after an operation on his left ankle in April, having taken his first wicket of the season in a NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Leicestershire Foxes, last Sunday.
He was invited to join the England practice session at Lord's on Tuesday afternoon and will play in a second Blast game for Durham at home to Northants Steelbacks at the Emirates Riverside on Friday night, before linking up with the Lions.
The England medical staff have been working closely with Mark and Durham throughout, and a series of 50-over matches with the Lions offers a good opportunity for him to take the next steps in his return to cricket," said James Whitaker, the National Selector.
"He is a great example of a player who came through the Lions with an outstanding tour of South Africa in the winter of 2014-15 to make his Test debut last summer, and his inclusion should give a boost to this Lions squad, as well as giving him the chance to work with the younger bowlers in the squad."
The Lions are monitoring the fitness of Jamie Overton, who suffered a back injury when bowling for Somerset in their Specsavers County Championship game against Middlesex on Monday.
