The start of the Ashes has been emotionally draining but Mark Wood is not about to let his energy levels dip

Alan Gardner25-Jul-20152:44

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Mark Wood admits that he was “shattered” after England’s defeat at Lord’s. The Durham fast bowler has quickly become one of the symbols of a vibrant young side but, as he visibly toiled in the second of back-to-back Tests, England too flickered and faded. Beaten by 405 runs, their third-heaviest such defeat in Ashes history, a bruised England were left to reflect on the rapid concession of their 1-0 lead and how they might patch themselves up with equal haste. Wood could yet be a casualty.But then, Wood says he was also shattered after the “ridiculous high” of England’s unexpectedly assured win in Cardiff the week before. The Ashes, and the intensity of competition against Australia, meant he had to handle the nerves of what felt like a second debut only six weeks after the first. Waking himself up in the middle of the night – he is a “tosser and turner” – thinking about how to bowl better the next day, Wood gives off a puppyish energy that seems playful right up until the moment he zips the ball down in excess of 90mph.It is that bowling zest England wish to preserve and which might see Wood rested before the series is concluded – although he protests against the notion. Emotions in English cricket never run higher than during an Ashes series and Wood is still getting his head around it all.”I have never experienced anything like the crowd in Cardiff, never experienced anything like walking through the Long Room with their cheering at the start,” he says. “To be in that atmosphere was incredible.”But then going to bed at night and thinking about the pressures of the next day – that’s different as well. Of course, making my debut against New Zealand I was nervous. But I was just as nervous for the first Ashes game at Cardiff. I never thought I’d feel like that. I thought, that was my debut, I was really nervous but it’s out the way, it’s done. But then the first Ashes game came and it was like ‘Why am I feeling like this again?’ I couldn’t believe it.

“I missed a ball at Cardiff because I was looking at the crowd. It is sometimes hard to believe you are involved but I am loving it”

“It’s definitely different. The whole intensity, pressure – you feel the nation on you a little bit. You’re desperate to do well for everyone and an Ashes Test is the biggest game you can have as an England player. It’s the one you want to play in and it’s a dream for any England or Australian player to be involved in the series. So at the minute I’m absolutely loving it. It doesn’t help when you get beat but I’m still enjoying the experience and learning things as I’m going along.”There is something of the ‘s “Brilliant Kid” to Wood, such is his unabashed delight at being involved with England. With his wide eyes and wider grin, sharply defined stubble and neat sideways sweep of hair, he looks like he could be a Simpsons character; his cartoon-like celebrations on taking a wicket are one of many reasons he makes England fans smile.Another is the imaginary horse that Wood occasionally attends to while staving off boredom in the field. The horse – still awaiting a name – made an appearance during the New Zealand Tests but, such has been helter-skelter start to the Ashes, the Australians have yet to get a glimpse.It might not be long, though, if Wood is deemed fit enough to saddle up again at Edgbaston. Wood is an only child – “that’s why I want all the attention all the time” – and seems to derive his energy from some internal dynamo. He immediately selects a sweet from the bowl on the table when he arrives to be interviewed, then points to the pen and pad placed in front of every seat in the conference room: “Is this for me to take notes on?”Along with the Panesar-like exuberance, he seems to have Hoggard-esque sense of the daft. Then there is the obvious comparison with Steve Harmison, who made the same journey from Ashington to England. Above all, though, Wood seems just like one of us. So awestruck was he during the first Test that he missed a delivery because he was taking it all in.”You have to pinch yourself. I can’t believe that people ask me for my autograph – it’s a bit scribbly and I am sure it will get better. It is fantastic, you get full houses at games and you hear them sing songs. I missed a ball at Cardiff because I was looking at the crowd. It is hard to believe you are involved sometimes but I am loving it.”Wood’s parents work in the civil service but it is impossible to imagine him sitting at a desk all day. He originally wanted to be a footballer and was on the books with Newcastle at the age of 10; later he had trials at Sunderland. It is appropriately quirky, then, that he supports Wimbledon. Why? Because, to the four-year-old Wood, his dad looked like the moustachioed Wimbledon goalkeeper Hans Segers.Mark Wood sets off in celebration after taking a wicket•Getty ImagesIt is more than 300 miles from Selhurst Park in south London, where Wood once watched Wimbledon lose 6-2 to Tottenham – “Klinsmann scored four, so that wasn’t a great trip” – to Ashington in Northumberland. He returned home to Ashington this week, making the slightly shorter journey from St John’s Wood, in order to step off the Ashes treadmill for a couple of days. “I’m pretty fortunate that the North East is far away from everyone else. I get a little bit of space and it’s nice to be around family, friends and not in that cricketing bubble.”Perhaps such a hyperactive personality benefits more than most from some down time. “I feel a lot fresher physically as well as mentally for the rest. Mentally more than anything else. My body has held up all right. It’s nice to relax, I can get a bit more gym work in before the next game and I’ll be raring to go.”Superficially, Wood’s energy levels don’t appear to be a problem but, like all fast bowlers, he has to be taped together at the start of the day. Wood has been likened to Simon Jones, a team-mate of Harmison’s in the 2005 Ashes, for his pace and reverse swing but Jones’ injury problems, which sadly curtailed his career, also come to mind. It would be no surprise if England felt they had to protect their latest asset.”Every time I come off after a day’s play, my left foot’s straight in an ice bucket to look after my ankle,” Wood says. “I’ve had ankle, side, back in the past. My back has been fine, touch wood, since I was a kid when I had a stress fracture. My side I tore on a Lions tour a couple of years ago, which touch wood again has been all right. I had an ankle problem last year, which has been all right. So, at the minute, the management side of things is going well.”Looking after my side and ankle are the main two. What I do for that is ice, things like Voltarol patches at the end of the day, physio love, rubbing and getting rid of that scar tissue. And then things in the gym like hop and hold, to try and get my ankle stronger. Similar with my side. It’s just trying to stay on the field, keeping that match fitness and match rhythm.”Staying on the field is the simple goal and Wood is not ready to be stood down yet, when “people haven’t seen the best of us”. As in 2005, England head to Edgbaston needing to hit back after defeat at Lord’s. Up at Ashington CC, they will collect in the clubhouse lounge hoping to watch Wood and doubtless recalling Harmison’s decisive role ten years ago. “I remember Geraint Jones taking that catch and the whole cricket club erupting,” Wood says. “Everyone went mental, there were drinks everywhere, chairs getting kicked over, it was fantastic.”Whatever happens this time, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wood was again left feeling shattered.