England to rest Mark Wood for 3rd Test vs Pakistan at Sharjah

The 25-year-old from Durham was England's best paceman in the 178-run loss against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai.

England are to rest paceman Mark Wood for the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah starting from Sunday as he recovers from an injured ankle. The 25-year-old from Durham was England’s best paceman in the 178-run loss against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai, claiming five wickets in the match. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Friday that he would miss the final Test, saying that he needed to rest.  Reports suggested Wood would undergo surgery on the problem at some point, meaning he would face a lengthy layoff. Wood is likely to be replaced by Yorkshire seamer Liam Plunkett although allrounder Chris Jordan could also be in the picture. CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England 2015, 3rd Test at Sharjah

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel — who bowls left-arm spin — could also come into contention in case the England team management feel the Sharjah wicket will help spinners.  England will also drop wicket-keeper batsman Jos Butler to bring in middle-order batsman James Taylor for his first Test in three years. Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket in the absence of Butler.

Meanwhile, West Indies great Viv Richards has hailed Joe Root‘s return to the top of the ICC Test batting ranking by proclaiming that the England batsman can become “phenomenal”. Root, 24, reclaimed the mantle of the world’s leading Test batsman earlier this week and Richards, one of the finest batsmen to have played the game, has backed him to enjoy a long and glittering career.

“I think Joe Root has done a magnificent job for a young man,” Richards told the website of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in comments published on Thursday. “If he continues he is going to be phenomenal because he is still very much a young man and he looks rather ‘gnashy’, but he looks like he has what it takes for you to compete at the top and certainly he has proved that to date.” READ: Trevor Bayliss backs struggling Ian Bell ahead of Pakistan vs England 2015, 3rd Test at Sharjah

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