ICC Champions Trophy: Mark Wood is 'gold dust' for England
Wood takes ODI-best figures of 4-33 as England knock out Australia
Saturday 10 June 2017 20:38, UK
Nasser Hussain says England have "struck it lucky" with the fitness of Mark Wood for the ICC Champions Trophy.
England, who had already confirmed their place in the semi-finals, added extra gloss to their progress from Group A by knocking Australia out of the tournament with their third win in three, at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Wood, who Hussain believes adds a bit of "gold dust" to the England attack, took career-best ODI figures of 4-33 to help restrict the Aussies to 277-9 before a stunning Ben Stokes century saw the hosts to victory.
"It only seems like a few months ago we were questioning the England bowling attack," said Hussain. "It all seems to have come together in the last six months.
"England have struck it lucky with Wood. If this tournament a few months ago, he'd have been injured.
"As it is, he's well rested because of his injuries. The fitness staff have got him up and ready for this competition.
"And he gets good players out - Hashim Amla, Kane Williamson, David Warner, Steve Smith already in this tournament. He is gold dust for England."
"Plus, England have got Liam Plunkett - leading wicket-taker in the tournament and Adil Rashid, who also took four-for and is having a fabulous summer."
While England's bowling impressed, there are concerns regarding England's batting, or more specifically, the form of one of their batsmen.
Jason Roy was dismissed second ball for four - his fifth single-figure score in his last six innings' for England - as England slipped to 35-3, before Stokes' unbeaten 102 and a fine 87 from skipper Eoin Morgan saved them.
Hussain worries that Roy's dismissal - lbw to Mitchell Starc - was symptomatic of someone struggling with their game as calls for Jonny Bairstow to replace him at the top of the order grow.
"He has been given the backing of his captain but his dismissal today showed that he is both technically and mentally gone a little bit," Hussain added.
"His bat angle came right across the ball and then he fell over completely. He also didn't ask Alex Hales if he should review the lbw decision or not.
"Only the lads in the dressing room and the backroom staff will know if Roy can turn it around before a semi-final.
"But let's say that Pakistan beat Sri Lanka and get to face England in a semi-final - then England's top order will have to deal with Junaid Khan and Mohammad Amir, two more left-armers bowling exactly like Starc."
