England handed Mark Wood injury blow in first Test

GEORGE DOBELL IN ANTIGUA: The Durham quick is suffering from an elbow problem, limiting him to just five overs on day three of the first Test

England’s hopes of pushing for victory in the Antigua Test have been dealt a blow by an injury to Mark Wood.

Wood, England’s quickest bowler by some distance, was able to deliver only five overs on the third day and has spent much of it off the pitch receiving treatment.

He was late on to the pitch at the start of play as his elbow was being strapped and has not been on the field at all since lunch. 

An England team spokesperson has said he is unlikely to bowl again in West Indies’ first innings.

With the match in the balance, that is a considerable blow for an England side who came into the match knowing they need to use Ben Stokes sparingly.

Stokes sustained a side injury during the Ashes and, as recently as a week ago, was seen as unlikely to bowl at all in this match.

The England management subsequently said he would carry a reduced workload as a bowler but, with Wood off the pitch and Chris Woakes somewhat below his best, Stokes has bowled 19 overs in the innings so far.

The incident must also raise doubts about Wood’s availability for the second innings and, indeed, for the remaining matches in the series.

^{Ben Stokes came into the Test short of full fitness (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

It is understood he first experienced the problem towards the end of the Ashes and had an injection in the elbow before leaving for this tour. Given his importance to the England team – and the extent of injuries to other bowlers – they are unlikely to take any chances with him.

It might also raise doubts about his availability for the Indian Premier League. Wood was brought by Lucknow Super Giants for £735,000 for this year’s edition. 

Wood joins Ollie Robinson as an injury doubt ahead of the second Test, which starts in Barbados on Wednesday (March 16).

Robinson missed this game with a sore back and, while he has returned to bowling over the last couple of days, looks a little way off stull fitness at this stage.

While England have not named their reserves for this tour, it is understood that Liam Norwell, the Warwickshire seamer, is one of the seam-bowling options.

England’s other quickest bowlers, Jofra Archer and Olly Stone, are both some way from fitness at present, though both are training with the squad at times during this tour.

The incident may add more scrutiny to the decision not to pick James Anderson or Stuart Broad for this three-Test series.

With the tourists' new-look attack having failed to optimise the new balls in this Test, the enduring form and fitness of Anderson and Broad is looking more impressive than ever.