SOUTHAMPTON: England fast bowler Mark Wood was left with a nervous wait after his World Cup chances were thrown into doubt by a foot injury that saw him leave the field during a warm-up defeat by Australia in Southampton on Saturday.

The Durham quick had managed just 3.1 overs in his opening spell when he abandoned his run-up after feeling pain in his left foot. Just five days beore England face South Africa.

Wood’s injury-plagued career has been blighted by a history of repeated ankle problems but he did give England some cause for optimism by running off to the pavilion, although the fact he then went to hospital for a scan and took no further part in an eventual 12-run defeat was concerning.

“We’ll see how it turns out in the morning. It can be a worry for him,” said England stand-in captain Jos Buttler. “He’s worked really hard and it’s something he’s battled a bit which is a frustration for him. He puts in all the work, the medical staff are great with him, and I’m sure he’s in the best hands. We hope for the best for him.”

This was just Wood’s second appearance of the season and his latest injury was a reminder that World Cup hosts and favourites England may have to call-up left-arm paceman David Willey as a replacement before the lengthy event is over.

“Unfortunately in professional sport things like this happen,” said Buttler, deputising as skipper for the injured Eoin Morgan.

“Around a World Cup everything is heightened because you want everyone to be fit and firing. We’ll go through the six weeks and we’ll have niggles in our team but so will other teams. It’s just the nature of the game.

“It’s always a bit of a worry because you want everyone to sail through the tournament 100 per cent fit but that’s not the nature of how things are going to happen.”

Morgan, however, is expected to recover from a finger problem in time to lead England in a World Cup opener against South Africa at The Oval on Thursday.

Chasing a target of 298 to win, England were bowled out for 285 in the final over after Steve Smith lad dominated Australia’s innings with a sublime century.

Smith hit eight fours and three sixes in his 116 off 102 balls before he was caught and bowled by Tom Curran in the final over.

“To get 300 was superb,” Australian skipper Aaron Finch said. “Steve played an unbelievable knock.”

England’s Liam Plunkett conceded 69 runs in his nine overs, but picked up four wickets — including top-order batsmen David Warner (43) and Shaun Marsh (30).

“The pitch was slower than some of the pitches we’ve played on before,” England’s acting captain Jos Buttler said. “It was still a good wicket, but didn’t have the pace it normally has.”

England’s top scorer was James Vince, who hit a patient 64 off 76 deliveries, before he was caught by Nathan Lyon attempting to cut a short ball. Buttler chipped in with a quick-fire 52 off 31 balls which included three sixes.

England play one more warm-up match against Afghanistan on Monday.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2019