Wood in England’s Champions Trophy squad, but Finn misses out
England have recalled fitagain “X-Factor” seamer Mark Wood for the Champions Trophy, while Steven Finn has missed out on one of five pace bowling slots.
Wood has battled back to fitness after missing the entire winter programme, during which he underwent a third ankle operation, and has done enough for Durham in the opening weeks of the season to persuade the selectors he is ready for the tournament in June.
“He’s worked hard on his fitness. He’s had a few issues in the last year or so, but he made his comeback in the UAE and has progressed nicely over the season for Durham,” National Selector James Whitaker said.
“He has got a few runs under his belt. He had a bit of tightness in his groin, but we feel he’s going to be fine. We don’t start for another month and he’s an exceptional X-Factor bowler. We look forward to seeing him.
“He can bowl 90 miles an hour and is a batsman and on his day he’s a handful. It gives (captain) Eoin (Morgan) and (coach) Trevor (Bayliss) the option of including him in the XI.”
With games held at Edgbaston, Cardiff and the Oval and England boasting an exciting and settled white-ball side, the eight-team event is seen as a real chance for the hosts to land a first global 50-over trophy.
And Wood is seen as a potentially key performer in that pursuit. The 27-year-old last played for England in September and, although injury problems have restricted him to a modest 11 one-day caps since debuting in 2015, his pace and hostility mark him out as a compelling choice.
There are no real surprises in the 15-man squad, which will also take on South Africa in a three-match series before the Champions Trophy, but Finn might have hoped to oust one of Jake Ball or David Willey from the party.
The Middlesex man played all three matches in England’s last 50-over series against the West Indies, but Willey offers variation as a left-armer and with Ball arguably a more consistent like-for-like option, there is no place for the 6ft 7in paceman.
Instead, he has the cold comfort of a place in a slightly modified 14-man squad to face Ireland in two ODIs in early May.
“It’s unfortunate for Steven, along with a couple of others. He may get his chance against Ireland but at the moment we’re comfortable with the seamers we’ve got,” added Whitaker.
“He just needs to be consistent and taking wickets and he’s just very unlucky. It’s unfortunate we’ve decided to pick other players.”
Liam Plunkett has yet to play this season due to a calf injury, but he is closing in on a return and, with the International Cricket Council permitting changes up to May 24, he has been given the nod.
England’s season will begin with the games against Ireland at Bristol and Lord’s on May 5 and May 7, with Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes all excused as they continue their Indian Premier League adventure.
Captain Morgan, wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings and opener Jason Roy will report back from India for those games, with Finn and Northamptonshire batsman Ben Duckett selected as cover.
The selectors have resisted the temptation to take a look at Lancashire’s rising star Liam Livingstone, Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan or Surrey prospect Tom Curran, but Duckett has been offered a first chance on home soil.
He made two ODI halfcenturies on his maiden tour against Bangladesh but his form collapsed in Tests against the Tigers and India. Both he and Finn will now be seen as first reserves for a Champions Trophy shot, should injuries arise between now and the cut-off.
Whitaker added: “We have made encouraging progress over the past 18 months in white-ball cricket and the squads selected reflect consistency and give options across all disciplines.
“As we build up to the ICC Champions Trophy in June, matches against Ireland and South Africa are very important in their own right as we aim to win both series.”