Former Australian cricketer Merv Hughes has warned that England’s fast‑bowling pair, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, may not be ready for the full‑length Ashes that begins on Nov. 21 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
With less than two weeks left before the five‑day Test series, Hughes raised concerns about the duo’s fitness and their limited experience facing Australian conditions. “It’s a way to see if they can handle it,” Hughes told Code Sports. “Because it’s such a compact series, you would think it’s unlikely. But the amount of cricket Wood and Archer have played in the last two years, plus the harder Australian wickets, means we have to watch if they’re match‑ready. If they’re not, it could hurt them.”
Wood is the only England bowler in the squad who has any Test experience in Australia. The 35‑year‑old didn’t bowl a single five‑day Test since Aug. 2024, when he faced Sri Lanka. He spent most of this year recovering from a knee injury and said he would have to wait and see if he can play all five Tests. “Last time we were here, I played four of five,” Wood said. “We’ve got good depth, so if one misses out, the next can step in.”
Archer’s recent injury history has also raised doubts. The 30‑year‑old has missed the last two Ashes series and never played a Test in Australia. If Archer or Wood are unavailable, England may call on Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse or Gus Atkinson to fill the gap.
Hughes, who took 75 wickets against England in his 212‑Test career, asked whether the fast‑bowling pair can withstand five Tests in the Test champion’s backyard. His question comes at a time when England’s bowlers look to get depth and experience in the most celebrated bilateral contest in cricket.
The Ashes will begin next Wednesday in Perth, and all eyes will be on Wood and Archer’s readiness to deliver pace on the famously bumpy Australian wickets. As the series approaches, the pressure on England’s front line will rise – and the match‑day performance of these bowlers could shape the outcome of the 14‑year‑old rivalry.
Source: ianslive
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