Cricket

England's Test team embarks on a new era at Trent Bridge, but with a familiar face returning to the fold. James Anderson's departure after 21 years leaves a void, but Mark Wood steps in to provide continuity alongside Chris Woakes.Wood and Woakes were instrumental in England's Ashes triumph last summer, offering a potent combination of raw pace and incisive swing. Their experience will be crucial as England prepare for the next Ashes tour.West Indies, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to regain momentum after their defeat at Lord's. Their batting lineup struggled to cope with England's bowling attack, and they will need their senior players to step up. Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder must lead the charge if West Indies are to avoid a series loss.Gus Atkinson, who made a stunning debut at Lord's, will be a key figure for England. His ability to generate swing and seam movement could prove decisive on a pitch that is expected to offer some assistance to the bowlers.England's team selection reflects their commitment to continuity and faith in their chosen players. Despite Wood's recent struggles, his raw pace and experience make him a valuable asset. Woakes' impressive record on home soil also makes him a reliable choice.West Indies, on the other hand, have opted for an unchanged lineup. They will hope that their batsmen can show more resilience and application against England's bowling attack.The weather forecast for the first two days of the Test is favorable, with sunny conditions expected. However, there is a chance of rain over the weekend. The pitch is expected to have a tinge of live grass on the surface, which could provide some assistance to the bowlers.

Mark Wood has been recalled to England's Test squad for the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge, replacing the retired James Anderson. Wood, England's fastest bowler, missed the first Test at Lord's due to his recent return from the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.Wood's inclusion means that Matthew Potts and Dillon Pennington will have to wait for their Test debuts, despite being named in the original squad for the first two Tests. Potts, who impressed with 23 wickets in his first six Tests, has not played for England since last June, while Pennington is yet to make his Test debut.Wood's selection follows the success of another 90mph seamer, Gus Atkinson, who claimed match figures of 12 for 106 in the Lord's Test. Atkinson's performance was the fourth-best by a debutant in Test history.Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who did not bowl in the Lord's Test, retains his place in the squad for Nottingham.England's XI for the second Test is as follows:1. Zak Crawley2. Ben Duckett3. Ollie Pope4. Joe Root5. Harry Brook6. Ben Stokes (capt)7. Jamie Smith (wk)8. Chris Woakes9. Gus Atkinson10. Mark Wood11. Shoaib Bashir

England has bolstered their bowling attack for the second Test against West Indies by adding Mark Wood to their squad. Wood replaces the legendary James Anderson, who retired from international cricket after England's emphatic victory at Lord's.Wood's inclusion marks his return to the Test arena since March, when he featured in India. He missed the Lord's Test due to his recent participation in the T20 World Cup. England's managing director, Rob Key, had previously expressed caution about rushing Wood into Test cricket after his T20 exploits."Once you come out of T20 cricket, then you're going into Test cricket very quickly... there's a period there where you can't just throw someone into a Test match," Key said. "Rest is probably not the right term but we'll look to make him available for selection for the second and third Tests, hopefully."England handed a Test debut to Gus Atkinson at Lord's, and the Surrey quick impressed with 12 wickets for 106 runs. Matthew Potts and the uncapped Dillon Pennington provide additional seam-bowling options in the squad.The second Test between England and West Indies commences on Thursday in Nottingham. England will be aiming to extend their lead in the three-match series after their dominant performance at Lord's.

Mark Wood's fiery spell of 3 for 12 against Oman propelled England to a crucial victory in the T20 World Cup, reigniting their hopes of defending their title. Despite facing criticism for his performance in the Barbados leg, Wood harnessed his "nervous energy" to deliver a statement performance.England's fate still hangs in the balance, as they must overcome Namibia on Saturday and rely on Australia's victory over Scotland to secure a place in the Super Eight. However, Wood's performance against Oman has instilled a renewed sense of confidence in the team.Wood admitted to feeling the pressure leading up to the match, but he used it to his advantage. "I was determined to put on another performance," he said. "I've been pretty happy with how it's gone apart from that one really stinking over."Wood's resilience and ability to adapt his bowling style have been key to his success. He has worked closely with team psychologist David Young to manage self-doubt and focus on his strengths. "Self-doubt is common for players," Wood said. "I was speaking to Youngy about more of the things that I focus on, rather than outcome all the time."England's ruthless display against Oman extended beyond Wood's bowling. The team's fielding was sharp, and they chased down the target of 48 in just 19 balls. However, their qualification hopes still depend on Australia's performance against Scotland.Wood dismissed suggestions that Australia might go easy on Scotland to eliminate England. "I think actually I saw it more as a respect thing," he said. "I have no problem with it."Despite the uncertainty surrounding their qualification, Wood remains confident in England's ability to advance. "We have got to show a little bit more and then fingers crossed for Australia," he said. "I'm absolutely confident they'll play the game their hardest, that's the Australian way."

David Warner, Australia's veteran opener, has expressed his belief that England's pace duo of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer will pose a different challenge on the slower T20 World Cup wickets in the Caribbean compared to their performances in the Ashes.Australia and England will face off for the first time since last year's Ashes series on Saturday in Barbados, with both teams seeking their second win of the tournament. Wood and Archer are expected to feature for England, who are desperate for a victory after their opening match against Scotland was washed out.Archer has not played against Australia since the 2020 white-ball series in England, while Wood was England's most threatening bowler in the 2023 Ashes, helping them recover from a 2-0 deficit to draw the series 2-2.However, Warner believes that the slower pitches in the Caribbean will neutralize the pace of Wood and Archer, making them less effective than they were in the Ashes."You just have to use their pace," Warner said. "Test cricket they set different fields, different balls. In Twenty20 cricket, you only have to get half an edge on it and it can go. So there's a fair difference."Warner also expects the bounce to be lower in the Caribbean, which will further reduce the impact of Wood and Archer's pace."I've played a lot of cricket over here," Warner said. "You are expecting it to be low rather than bounce, unless it is real short. The variation in bounce is what surprises you. Because when they pitch the ball that eight-metre [from the stumps] length, your natural instinct is to pull it. But you have to go back to targeting straight, backing yourself, and if it does bounce, so be it."Warner's comments come after he scored a steady 56 from 51 balls in Australia's opening win against Oman. The innings came after a disappointing IPL, which led to some criticism of his selection ahead of rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk."It [the criticism] doesn't fuel me. It's in one ear, out the other," Warner said. "I don't understand why it's all about myself. There are 11 players in the team. I don't get it.""People feel like they have to keep criticising the way I play. I don't know what it is. I have no answer as to why people write that. I have had it my whole career. I don't listen to it."Sunday's Group B clash has become crucial for England after their shared points with Scotland. A loss to Australia would leave them in danger of being eliminated from the tournament, as Scotland beat Namibia on Friday.

Mark Wood's Unplayable Delivery Stuns Azam Khan in England's T20I VictoryEngland's Mark Wood unleashed an astonishing delivery that left Pakistan's Azam Khan bewildered during the fourth T20I at the Oval on Thursday. Wood's 88.4mph rocket stunned Khan, forcing him to take evasive action and ultimately leading to his dismissal.The incident occurred in the 11th over of Pakistan's innings. Wood charged in and delivered a vicious bouncer that angled in from back of length. The ball rose sharply and hurried onto Khan, who was caught off guard. Khan attempted to duck out of the way, but the ball kissed his glove and looped off his shoulder to England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.The unplayable delivery sent Khan packing for a five-ball duck. The dismissal was a testament to Wood's exceptional pace and accuracy. The England speedster has been in impressive form throughout the series, consistently troubling Pakistan's batters with his raw pace and movement.In the match, England restricted Pakistan to 157 all out, with Wood claiming two wickets. England then chased down the target with 27 balls remaining, securing a 2-0 series victory over Pakistan. The win gives England a boost of confidence heading into the defense of its T20 World Cup title.Wood's delivery has been widely praised by cricket experts and fans alike. It is a reminder of the devastating impact that a well-executed bouncer can have on a batter. The dismissal also highlights the importance of quick reflexes and anticipation in the game of cricket.