Wood takes England return in his stride

NERVES were never likely to be an issue on Luke Wood’s England comeback, with the left-armer returning to the fold just a month after he was caught up in the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan.

- BY RORY DOLLARD

Wood was playing for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League when political tensions between the two nations developed into military clashes over the disputed Kasmir region, forcing both the PSL and Indian Premier League to be suspended.

Overseas players left the country as concerns grew, but the Lancashire seamer was among those who returned to finish the tournament after a short hiatus, playing two more games in Rawalpindi.

With that experience in his recent past, the 29-year-old was unlikely to be fazed by his return to the international stage after 21 months.

He made the perfect start in Sunday’s series-clinching T20 win over the West Indies, pinning Evin Lewis lbw with his very first ball, and was later named player of the match after taking two for 25 in a contest dominated by the bat.