Mark Wooden has emerged as an damage concern two days out from England’s T20 World Cup semi-final towards India after withdrawing from coaching at Adelaide.
Wooden has been the quickest bowler on present at this event, averaging 92mph and touching 96mph on a number of events to continuously unsettle batters on the bouncier Australian surfaces.
Having taken 9 wickets in 4 matches, Wooden can be anticipated to have a key function towards India’s star-studded batting line-up however appeared to tug up throughout a delicate jog on the Adelaide Oval outfield.
The 32-year-old took no additional half in Tuesday’s optionally available apply and didn’t bowl within the nets, seemingly a precautionary measure as England confirmed he was affected by normal physique stiffness.
Whereas the problem might merely be a case of the event’s calls for, with England optimistic he will probably be able to face India on Thursday, Wooden has a worrying historical past of damage setbacks.
He not too long ago missed your entire summer season programme after present process two operations on his proper elbow.
It’s one other potential headache England may do with out as they’re but to make a name on Dawid Malan, who tweaked his left groin whereas fielding in final Saturday’s win over Sri Lanka and didn’t bat.
The left-hander was mentioned to be quietly optimistic of being concerned towards India however England will probably be reluctant to take any dangers given the big magnitude of what’s at stake.
Whereas he walked around the outfield earlier than briefly jogging on Tuesday, Phil Salt, who would possible come into the facet if Malan was unavailable, appeared to have an prolonged catching session on the boundary.
India got a scare of their very own as captain Rohit Sharma was struck on the wrist whereas batting within the nets, requiring remedy, though he was quickly again in coaching and isn’t regarded as a doubt.
England, in the meantime, found on Tuesday they are going to be taking part in on the identical pitch that staged the New Zealand-Eire and Australia-Afghanistan double-header final Friday.
A used floor has been one thing of an Achilles heel up to now however England have overwhelmed New Zealand and Sri Lanka on such wickets and it isn’t regarded as a bone of rivalry.
An Worldwide Cricket Council spokesperson mentioned: “The ICC doesn’t have a rule about the usage of fresh-only or used pitches for any match in an ICC occasion.
“Our requirement is for the best-possible taking part in floor for each match. It doesn’t essentially observe {that a} ‘new’ pitch will probably be higher than one that will have been beforehand used.”
Ben Stokes believes England must regulate to the unfamiliar floor dimensions at Adelaide, that are longer straight and shorter sq..
Whereas they had been introduced with comparable measurements towards Sri Lanka at Sydney, the place Stokes’ 42 not out off 36 balls helped England to victory, which ensured a top-two end of their Tremendous 12s group forward of Ashes rivals Australia, at Adelaide the distinction is extra pronounced.
“We’ll have to attend and see what the wicket does on Thursday, I suppose,” he mentioned.
“It is about assessing and adapting to no matter state of affairs you could have in entrance of you.
“However we have been taking part in on huge, sq. boundaries and seeking to attempt to get the batters to hit to them, whereas right here we’re in all probability going to need to look to vary our techniques.”
Watch England’s T20 World Cup semi-final towards India stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket on Thursday (7am build-up forward of an 8am begin)