England have called up fast bowler Mark Wood to replace the injured Olly Stone for their three-Test series against West Indies that starts in Bridgetown on 23 January.
Bengaluru: England have called up fast bowler Mark Wood to replace the injured Olly Stone for their three-Test series against West Indies that starts in Bridgetown on 23 January.
Stone was ruled out of the series after sustaining a bone stress injury to his lower back.
Wood, 29, has 12 Test caps for his country, the last of which was earned in a nine-wicket defeat by Pakistan at Lord’s last May, in which he picked up two wickets.
He featured regularly for the England Lions during last year’s tour of the United Arab Emirates where they played Pakistan A.
“I’m really pleased to get the call and I do feel for Olly in these circumstances,” the right-arm fast bowler said.
“I’ve put a lot of work into my game when I was away with Lions in the UAE during November and December. My body is good to go. I left the tour of the UAE in a really good place physically.”
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Bairstow had broken his leg and dislocated his ankle when he slipped on a golf course in September last year and missed the T20 World Cup in Australia and the subsequent away Test tour of Pakistan.
The win was a boost for South Africa, who are yet to earn automatic qualification for the World Cup in India later this year.
The ICC match referee had rated the Pindi pitch "below average" after England won the test match by 74 runs under dimming light on the last day by playing some attacking cricket.