Mark Wood and Dawid Malan have made dramatic last ditch attempts to try and force their way into the World Cup final after missing the semi through injury.
Wood, who has been the fastest bowler on show in the tournament, was particularly impressive as he let the ball fly during a high octane session in which he threatened to burst the ball through an empty MCG net
He had already been put through his paces on the outfield, sprinting back and forth as he tried to convince the medics, head coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler that they should take a gamble on a player with a hip injury.
Wood is a huge weapon for England to have in their armoury heading into a World Cup final, and perhaps this is the game above all where it is worth taking a risk. But of course the stakes are so high, that it would be an astonishing own goal were England to play a man who breaks down and is unable to do his job properly in a final. And just hours earlier Mott had made it clear that he was not of the mind to take an unnecessary risk.
“There isn’t a lot of time for them,” said Mott. “Everything would have to go right for them to be available at the moment. And it is a real risk taking injured players into big games and I think you can really regret that.
"Sometimes you gamble when you don't have that depth, but when you've got players that are capable of finding a way through and doing a role I think it makes the decision a lot easier. "
Wood had also seemed less convinced about his chances of playing after missing the semi-final.
"I tried my best to make the last game but I couldn't bowl at the intensity and speeds required to play for England," said Wood on BBC's ‘Good Pace for Radio podcast,’ "I couldn't get my hip going. Hopefully if required I can try and get it right for this game - I don't know if I'll be able to. If the captain desperately needs me and I'm fit enough then I'll put my name in the hat like everyone else."
Both men are hoping to play in the final and Malan was moving far more positively during his training session than he was in Adelaide. The left hander is yet to play in a global final and enjoyed a lengthy net session and looked comfortable throughout, while he also ran around on the MCG outfield with the energy of a man who is close to full fitness.
“They're both improving,” said Buttler. “Of course, there are not too many days since they were not fit enough for the semi-final. But we'll give them every chance possible.”
