Wood: People might question my x factor

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England fast bowler Mark Wood says that while some may question whether he does in fact bring an x factor to the team he will continue to do his best.

Wood took just one wicket as England struggled in the field while Pakistan built a 166 run first innings lead on day two of the first Test at Lord’s.

The quick got the first wicket of the day, setting up Haris Sohail with a barrage of short deliveries before getting him to nick off to a fuller swinging ball.

But the Pakistan middle order would provide meaty resistance and England looked somewhat uninspired in the field.

Speaking after play Wood said: “I’ve left the day with one wicket and I’d have liked a few more than that.

“People might question the x factor I’m meant to have in the team. I tried my hardest and I’ll come again tomorrow.”

When asked if they hit the right lengths Wood admitted that they didn’t bowl in the right areas often enough.

He said: “Probably not as consistently as we would have liked. It’s a pitch where if you put the ball around the top of off stump, something happens. A hard day’s graft.”

Wood acknowledged that Pakisatn made them work hard for each wicket and kept on putting together partnerships.

“It was hard toil from our point of view. They just kept getting scores. If we could have got two or three in a cluster that would have helped but they kept getting scores,” Wood said.

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