Mark Wood: England fast bowler cleared of hamstring injury for Ashes
England, poised to make 202 in just over one session, completed their three-day tour by reaching the target within 35 overs.
Ollie Pope added to his first innings century with 90 off 67 balls and Joe Root continued his second day’s failure by spending 75 minutes at the crease for 31 minutes.
Harry Brook, timid in taking just two deliveries in the first innings, attempted a reverse sweep and was bowled out by Will Jacks in 19 minutes. England were guided to victory by captain Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith.
Jacob Bethell had previously made 70 for the Lions and had found form too late to feature in the Test side. Future Test hopefuls Ben McKinney and Jordan Cox made their second half-centuries of the match to allow the Lions to declare at 251-6.
Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir struggled again. After returning 1-68 from bowling 12 overs for the Lions on Friday, he came in to take more punishment as part of England’s attack on Saturday, scoring almost seven runs. He outperformed fellow off-spinner Jacks, who outfoxed Root with beauty.
Realistically, the action on the field was overshadowed by the news on the field.
That it all works out is a huge boost for Wood, one of the fastest bowlers to play for England, even though his 37-Test career has been blighted by injuries.
He has not played a Test since August 2024, first due to an elbow problem and then a knee injury.
Despite the long absence, England were keen for Wood to feature in the XI alongside Jofra Archer in the first Test and bat quickly against Australia, which is expected to be a lively ground at Optus Stadium.
The tourists have hinted at their plans for the Ashes opener by naming five pace bowlers, including Wood and Archer, and a spinner who was not included in their front-line XI for the tour match against the Lions.
Now England will have to weigh up whether to include Wood in their squad for the first Test and how that will affect the balance of attack if he is not risked. Josh Tongue could be included as a similar replacement or England could turn into a return option.
If Wood does not play in the first Test, he has the option of improving his fitness for the Lions fixture.
The Lions face the Cricket Australia XI at Lilac Hill at the same time as the first Test, then move on to a two-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.
Meanwhile, leg spinner Rehan Ahmed will miss the remainder of the Lions tour due to his leg injury.
Ahmed missed out on being selected for the Ashes squad after England opted for the Jacks as their second spinner.
The 21-year-old footballer is expected to return to England but will be ready to play for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League from next month.
