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"I've got one more chance of doing this right"
Mark Wood, who has been recovering from the injury to his left knee picked up during the Perth Ashes Test, told the BBC that he hoped to be back on a cricket field later this summer.
“I need to take it slow,” he said. “Realistically I’ve got maybe one more chance at doing this right. If I rush it back, then it’s not good, that could be it.
“I’m still trying to get back to bowling, hopefully later on in the summer.”
“You’ve got to keep your eye on the prize, which is ultimately for me trying to get to playing for England, that’s my focus.
“It’s mega frustrating. It’s been a long time, over a year since I had the initial surgery. To build it back up for seven months to play one game, and then be out again takes its toll.
“With the age I’m at, I don’t want to miss games. You want to be involved. I was bowling quickly and well before this injury started and I haven’t been able to get back to that level.”
“A big shiny empty box of ideas” – Barney brutally picks apart Baz 3.0.
Andy Bull went to Lord’s yesterday. Here is a thoughful read on Middlesex’s decline.
Friday's round-up
Surrey stepped up security at the Oval following the knife attack at Golders Green as off-field decisions took the headlines on day one of round five of the County Championship.
In a statement, the club said: “Surrey are in communication with the Met police and will adjust our own security measures in line with the increased threat level. We want to ensure that all staff, spectators and players feel safe and secure.”
On the pitch, which last week was a gentle duvet, Sussex were reduced to 92 for seven, thanks largely to Jordan Clark (five for 68). But the tail wagged, and wagged some more, as Fynn Hudson-Prentice thrashed 53 before Jack Carson and Ollie Robinson hit boundary-laden hundreds.
Robinson, the visiting captain, reached three figures with a swipe for six and then declared. Surrey, who were without Gus Atkinson, rested by England, walked off in great frustration. Jamie Smith kept wicket after Ben Foakes was ruled out of the match, having injured himself bowling during the final afternoon against Essex.
The Kent captain, Daniel Bell-Drummond, collected a Rolls-Royce of a century at Canterbury, after Derbyshire chose to field. Zak Crawley stroked a boundary-filled 44. Kent, who lie bottom of Division Two, had earlier this week taken the unusual decision to switch comments off the club’s social media accounts as a “duty of care”.
It was a gripping day at Taunton, where an enthusiastic crowd were treated to 45 minutes of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root pistoning Somerset’s attack. But after lunch Lewis Gregory zipped out Root, and Craig Overton, who had dropped Bairstow at slip, induced an inside edge. Suddenly, Yorkshire lost seven for 38 and were all out for 162. Then Josh Thomas, 21, made a bravura first Championship century, taking Somerset into the lead with a six.
Ben Stokes, recovering from a broken cheekbone, was spotted in the Durham nets at Lord’s. Over on the main square, Sam Robson (87) and Ryan Higgins (57) guided Middlesex towards 300. At the County Ground, Gareth Roderick hit 164 not out – Worcestershire’s first century of the season – to put pressure on Northamptonshire.
A careful maiden Championship century for Saca graduate Zain ul Hassan, and 158 for Kiran Carlson, left Glamorgan in a dominant position against Hampshire at Southampton. At Grace Road, Nottinghamshire flourished after being put in by Leicestershire – Ben Slater’s 178 backed up by Ben Duckett’s third successive half century.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire v Glamorgan 353-1
Leicester: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire 405-4
Taunton: Somerset 201-3 v Yorkshire 162
The Oval: Surrey 19-0 v Sussex 358-9dec
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 352 v Derbyshire 24-0
Lord’s: Middlesex 272-6 v Durham
Northampton: Northants 40-0 v Worcestershire 306
Preamble
Hello! A merry May Saturday all round, may you be as productive as the blue tit currently busying in the climbing rose at the back of my garden. Seven games underway, two particularly intriguing ones at The Oval and Taunton.
We’ll be here chewing things over there, and everywhere else, from 11am – pull up a stool and join us.
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