Former England captain Michael Atherton has said that pace bowler Mark Wood has been one of the few positives on a rather forgettable Ashes tour for them. Atherton lauded Mark Wood’s brilliant display with the ball and his important contribution with the bat in the first innings of the Sydney Test as well.

While writing in his column for The Times, Michael Atherton has stated that Mark Wood has been one of the most improved England players on this tour. He applauded Wood’s brilliant display every time he got an opportunity to play for the country.

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Atherton said: “Few have enhanced their reputations here, but Wood is one. Australians love a battler. Wood’s evident spirit and spunk has been plain to see in the furious way he has bowled and in his gung-ho batting here that helped England to get beyond the follow-on mark. The circumstances of this difficult tour have not diminished him.”

Michael Atherton further shared that tours to Australia are often exhausting; however, he again added Wood’s durability in this series and also suggested his fitness has improved a lot and built him for the long run as well.

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The veteran added: “Typically, Australia is a tour that breaks bodies and minds. Who knows what combination they will put out in Hobart, but if Wood plays, it will equal the most he has played in a Test series before and it will be a testament to his physical conditioning. It will also be an indictment of his non-selection in Adelaide when the series was alive.”