Perth: England’s batters were both exhilarated and slightly terrified by the sight of Mark Wood marking out his run in the Perth Stadium nets on Tuesday.

Having survived the experience, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith confirmed that England’s Ashes chances had received a major fillip from the sight of speedster Wood charging in at training following his hamstring scare.

After missing the whole English season with a knee problem, Wood complained of hamstring stiffness during the tourists’ sole Ashes warm-up game at Lilac Hill and was sent for scans.

His fitness status was up in the air at the same time Josh Hazlewood was withdrawn from Australia’s squad for Perth with a hamstring strain of his own.

But Wood’s return to the bowling crease was a source of smiles and happily raised eyebrows fo

See Full Page