England omit Wood from second Test squad as Anderson returns

England have rolled the dice with another huge selection gamble ahead of the second Ashes Test, leaving out their fastest bowler Mark Wood for the day-night contest in Adelaide.

Wood has been omitted from a 12-man squad for Thursday’s pink ball Test despite being fit to play, an eye-catching call given the way his express pace unsettled Australia in Brisbane.

Figures of three for 85 did not flatter Wood, who hit a top speed of 94mph at The Gabba, dismissed danger man Steve Smith for just 12 and beat the bat consistently.

Yet he is the man to make way for the returning James Anderson, who is back to lead the attack after sitting out the series opener to build his match sharpness.

Wood has a long history of injury problems and has not always been robust enough to string together back-to-back performances but, in the absence of Jofra Archer and Olly Stone, he is England’s last man standing in terms of genuine, bone-rattling speed.

To put him on ice with an eye on later games amounts to a significant risk for a side who are already 1-0 down but captain Joe Root, who may be looking to Ben Stokes as an enforcer after being struck on the helmet by his vice-captain during a fiery spell in the nets on Tuesday, made the case for rotation.

“With four Tests coming up in the next four weeks, it is important that we keep our bowling group fresh and ready for each Test,” he said.

“Mark will play a pivotal role in this series and we have to ensure he is fresh and able to perform at his fullest capability. With three Tests coming up after this one, he will be ready to play his part in the rest of the series.”

England squad for second Ashes Test: Joe Root (captain), Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.