Wood is doubtful for Ashes opener after injury blow

MARK Wood has emerged as a major doubt for England's first Ashes Test after suffering a hamstring injury on day one of their only pre-series warm-up match.

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An in-house outing against Andrew Flintoff’s England Lions at Lilac Hill might otherwise have been notable for fit-again captain Ben Stokes taking six for 52, proving his readiness to lead the fight against Australia, but Wood's fitness scare overshadowed proceedings.

The 35-year-old Durham paceman has spent the last nine months on the sidelines following knee surgery, but hopes were high that the country’s quickest bowler would be able to get up to speed in time to feature in the first Test next Friday.

Instead, Ashington-born Wood pulled up sore after his second four-over spell and is now awaiting further assessment to determine the extent of the problem.

A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board said: “He has some stiffness in his hamstring, which has kept him off the field for some time during the second session of the first day and will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow. He is expected to bowl again in two days’ time: