Luke Wood feels he has made significant progress with England in recent months as his bid to win the T20 World Cup is just around the corner.
The left-arm fast bowler first appeared on England’s radar earlier this year and made his T20 and ODI debut this autumn. He was also rushed into the traveling reserves for the World Cup match with Tymal Mills after Rhys Topley suffered a serious injury just days before England’s tournament opener.
Although not part of the campaign, Wood believes training with some of the country’s best white-ball stars and winning the T20 crown last week has made him a better cricketer. “I guess when I saw men go to the World Cup final I didn’t expect it, but when I get the chance to go there, I have a big appetite,” he said.
“He’s going to the World Cup which I dreamed of when I was little. I know I didn’t play but it was great to be on stage and be with the boys. “At the beginning of the year, we did not anticipate this. It’s actually a bit surreal.
“I feel like I feel better every time I go. When it comes to these types of environments, the longer you stay, the better player you will definitely be.
Although not part of the 15-man squad that finished the World Cup, Wood and fellow substitutes Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson received winners’ medals after the final.
“I didn’t expect that,” he said. “I didn’t think the reserve would get a medal, but we did.” We all signed our pictures and I signed my shirt. All are good memories.
Wood made his first ODI appearance in Thursday’s six-wicket defeat to Australia in Adelaide, making England’s second XI four days after the World Cup final.
Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were rested to allow some irregular players to get on with the job, including an energetic Wood who took 10 overs. Earlier in the day, friend and Lancashire team-mate Phil Salt showed off his ODI cap as the 27-year-old made his fifth List A appearance, which Wood said was “a moment very special”.
As Wood himself admitted, participation in the Hundred limited his chances of competing in the One-Day Cup. This is because the two events run side by side during the British summer.
But he believes he has learned an important lesson from 50-year-old Australian batsman David Warner, Travis Head and Steve Smith ahead of Saturday’s second ODI in Sydney.