Australian cricket great Merv Hughes has cast doubt on whether England's pace spearheads Jofra Archer and Mark Wood can withstand the rigours of a full five-Test Ashes series, suggesting their fitness could be a decisive factor in the outcome of the historic contest.
Fitness Concerns Loom Over England's Attack
With less than a fortnight until the highly anticipated first Test, the physical condition of Archer and Wood has come under intense scrutiny. The pair, who have already landed in Perth, are set to lead England's bowling charge against an Australian batting line-up that has its own vulnerabilities.
Mark Wood, at 35 years old, is the only member of England's bowling squad with previous Test experience in Australia. However, a knee injury has sidelined him for much of this year, and he hasn't played a five-day match since August 2024 against Sri Lanka. Wood himself admitted to reporters that his availability for all five Tests would depend on conditions and how his body recovers.
Injuries have also severely disrupted the career of talismanic quick Jofra Archer. The 30-year-old has missed the last two Ashes tours and, notably, none of his 15 Test caps have been earned on Australian soil.
Hughes Highlights Physical Toll of Australian Pitches
Hughes, who captured 75 of his 212 Test wickets against England, expressed significant doubts about the pair's ability to back up across the compact series. "It's a wait and see isn't it? Because it's such a compact series, you would think it'd be unlikely," Hughes told Code Sports.
He pinpointed the combination of their limited recent cricket and the demanding nature of Australian wickets as a major concern for the tourists. "Australia's wickets being a lot harder and a lot more rugged on the body... if they're not match ready, and they try and get a bit out of them, it could be detrimental to those two," Hughes warned.
England's Backup Plans and Expert Opinion
Wood acknowledged the team's bowling depth, pointing to his experience in the last Australian tour where he played four of the five Tests. "We've got a good depth in our bowlers, so we know if one misses out to be prepared for the next game," he stated on Friday.
Should either Archer or Wood break down, England would likely turn to the relatively inexperienced trio of Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, or Gus Atkinson.
Meanwhile, Channel 7 commentator and English cricket personality David 'Bumble' Lloyd told The West Australian that England should unleash both Wood and Archer in the first Test at Perth's fast and bouncy Optus Stadium. "All the talk is that they will play together in Test one and then alternate from then on," Lloyd revealed, adding that the team management would not risk either player if they were not fully fit.
The fitness of England's two fastest bowlers remains a critical subplot as the Ashes series, one of the most keenly awaited in recent memory, draws near.
