Harmison ranks Wood among the world's best

Steve Harmison believes ‘match-winner’ Mark Wood holds the key to England’s ICC Cricket World Cup hopes after the Durham paceman’s star turn during the tour of West Indies.

A late call-up to Joe Root’s Test team following injury to Warwickshire’s Olly Stone, Wood shone with the ball on his return to the international fold, producing a devastating spell during February’s third Test that yielded five wickets in just eight overs.

After seeing much of his career blighted by injury, it was a fairytale comeback for the 29-year-old, who then took a further seven wickets during the ensuing ODI series to strengthen his case for both a World Cup place and a spot in the Test squad for this summer’s Ashes series.

And former England international Harmison, a close friend of Wood, thinks his fellow Ashington native has what it takes to push on and become his country’s main man in the coming months.

“I’m just pleased for him from an injury point of view”, Harmison said, speaking from Durham on the latest leg of the ICC Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan.

“Mark rightly wasn’t selected initially for the Test tour because of his injuries and bowling performances – people had done a lot better than he had – but he’s taken his chance with both hands and propelled himself into an Ashes and World Cup summer.

“He’s the leading figure and the leading light because when you fast-forward to the Ashes, England are massive favourites because of the bowling unit.

“Australia have four fast bowlers that are going to have to play in both while some of England’s bowlers are going to have their feet up in Broad and Anderson.

“Woody’s going to have to do what the Australian bowlers are doing, despite a suspect injury record. It’ll be interesting to see how it’s managed, but to see him do well is just fantastic.”

Key to Wood’s turnaround in fortunes has been a sustained spell clear of injury, with a change in run-up helping to both relieve the pressure on the Durham bowler’s body and allow him to maintain his speed for longer spells.

Yet now seemingly injury free, the England man’s greatest challenge could well come this summer when he is likely to do battle with the world’s best at the World Cup.

How that tussle goes, Harmison says, could well decide the destination of the trophy.

He added: “Wood has got the pace like the Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starcs of this world, the fast, fast bowlers.

“The World Cup is going to be decided by how well these bowlers perform under pressure, and that’s Mark’s challenge, because for all the talk of the batters, there’s some very good bowlers on show.

“A Wood, Cummins or Jasprit Bumrah can have a side 20-5 and that’s game won, so as much as batters are worth their weight in gold, a good strike-bowler is definitely a match-winner.
“England’s match-winner is Mark Wood.”

ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, commences 100-day tour of England and Wales and will be at over 100 locations and events before arriving back in London ready for the opening match on May 30