Ashes 2023: England batters will have to do the job to give Mark Wood rest – Michael Vaughan

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has urged the hosts’ batters to deliver in the first innings of the ongoing third Ashes Test against Australia at Leeds, Headingley to give enough rest to Mark Wood. The England pacer returned with impressive figures of 5-34 in the first essay to play a significant role in bundling out Australia for 263 runs after Ben Stokes decided to bowl first.

Vaughan feels the batters need to give time to Mark Wood, so that he can put his feet up in the dressing room and also deliver in the second innings of the third Test.

The ace fast bowler dismissed in-form Usman Khawaja with a peach of a delivery that swung back into the left-hander. Wood also accounted for Alex Carey after hitting him on the head and wiped off Australia’s tail – Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Todd Murphy – in a jiffy.

Wood was added to the playing XI of the third Test after he regained full fitness. Vaughan said pace and mystery spin can make the batters uncomfortable at the crease and Wood had Australian batters under the cosh with his extra pace.

“Wonder what the scars he’s done in this innings going into the next innings,” he said. “Because quick bowling, it can offer scars going forward. Batters don’t want to be facing it and It’s how Mark Wood recovers now.”

“Generally batters don’t like mystery spin and also pace. It doesn’t matter if you bat down the bottom or at the top of the order. Saw the ball he got Khawaja and Khawaja has been the rock, played with so much clarity , so much time throughout this series yet Mark Wood does him for pace. He does Cummins for pace later on, hits Carey on the head and gets him out next ball,” added Vaughan.

The former England opener highlighted the hosts can not expect Mark Wood to bowl at more than 90 mph if he doesn’t get enough rest on the second day of the Test match.

“This is why I look at England’s batting now and the batters have to do the job to give Wood rest. If Mark Wood is back out there tomorrow afternoon having to bowl, then you can’t expect someone to continuously bowl at 90 MPH when he’s had one night’s rest,” said Vaughan.

Wood was superb for England but the hosts lost three wickets for only 68 runs and trail by 195 runs.