England face bowling crisis ahead of The Ashes – with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood battling injuries
ENGLAND face a bowling crisis ahead of The Ashes — with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood both battling injuries.
Joe Root's two fastest men are suffering wear and tear from the glorious World Cup campaign.
And that is a serious blow to their bowling armoury ahead of the First Test against Australia on August 1.
Archer has flown to Barbados, the island of his birth, for a week to recover from a strain to his left side.
The Sussex speedster was a near-certainty for the First Test — but his realistic target now is the Second Test on August 14.
Wood, who suffered a left-side strain in Sunday’s epic win over New Zealand at Lord’s, could miss six weeks and has no chance of being fit before the Third Test.
England have called up Warwickshire’s Olly Stone — another man capable of exceeding 90mph — for their Test against Ireland at Lord’s, which starts on Wednesday.
And Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory is also in a Test squad for the first time.
But speaking of a change of pace, Jason Roy has been given the green light to bash the Aussies to every corner of every ground used for this summer's Ashes.
The Surrey star will make his Test debut against Ireland next week as preparation for the Ashes showdown.
And Roy will be encouraged to play in the same aggressive manner he displayed as an opener for England’s one-day World Cup winners.
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Chief selector Ed Smith said: “It’s no secret the selectors have long been admirers of Jason.
“We have total confidence he will adapt to Test cricket and demonstrate his skill and aura in red ball cricket."
Archer and Wood both reached 95mph during the World Cup and England were hoping to use one, or both, to fight fire with fire against Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
During the World Cup, Archer struck South African Hashim Amla and Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey on the head with bouncers.
Wood was man of the match in England’s most recent Test against West Indies in February, when he bowled with ferocious velocity.
James Anderson is in the squad following a calf injury and England will decide next week whether to risk their all-time leading bowler — or rest him for the Ashes.
Chris Woakes, another World Cup hero, is included despite his ongoing knee problem.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have been rested from the Ireland Test after their World Cup exertions, although they will attend an Ashes training camp this weekend.
Jonny Bairstow said he wanted to play and Joe Root resumes the captaincy after almost three months of non-stop white-ball cricket.
Chief selector Ed Smith said: “It looks like Mark will be unavailable for longer than Jofra — but we’ll monitor those situations.
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“Anderson is making strong progress and, if he is good to go, he’ll play against Ireland.
“Stone has been in tour squads in the past. He has pace and aggression and takes wickets at a good strike-rate.
“Gregory has taken 44 wickets at 13 this summer. He also had a strong winter for England Lions.”