‘Captain’s not stupid!’ – Wood ribs Root after skipper’s four-wicket haul

Mark Wooden joked England captain Joe Root had pulled rank on the way in which to attaining his Check-best bowling figures on day 4 of the third Check towards South Africa at St George’s Park.

The vacationers’ skipper poached 4-31 after Wooden struck twice as South Africa’s sorry batsmen, following on after a first-innings morning collapse, slumped to 102-6 at stumps on Sunday – trailing by 188 runs.

Root’s off-spin prompted chaos, taking his lead from Dom Bess, who grabbed 5 wickets within the Proteas’ first knock however had a supporting function second time round.

Wooden, taking part in his first aggressive match since England’s Cricket World Cup last conquer New Zealand final July, quipped that Root used his authority to take centre stage in Port Elizabeth.

“He bowled himself on the proper finish, did not he!” the paceman stated. “Put younger Bessy on on the non-spinning finish and he bought the spinning finish. So captain’s not silly is he!

“I really feel like he does get key wickets when he bowls. He is been engaged on it lots within the nets. As a bunch we’re actually happy for him. Hopefully he will get the ‘five-for’ tomorrow.”

Root had solely taken 4 wickets in a match as soon as earlier than, a 4-5 haul in a profitable trigger for Yorkshire towards Roses rivals Lancashire in 2018.

The proper begin @MAWood33!

Scorecard: https://t.co/z0ee9tcF6j#SAvENG pic.twitter.com/ynlA6bhzlT

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 19, 2020

Wooden, nonetheless, isn’t any stranger to large performances with the ball, however spending one other lengthy spell out of motion has been irritating for the 30-year-old Durham paceman.

“I’ve waited fairly some time to return again in,” he stated, after taking 2-23. “I am attempting to have enjoyable, attempting to play with a smile on my face and take all of it in.

“Earlier than the sport I wasn’t positive the way it was going to go. I hadn’t performed any follow matches, I did not have any of that match health. I used to be most likely a bit of bit drained on the finish of right this moment however all in all I feel I’ve stood up nicely bodily.”

Wooden suffered his aspect harm with three balls remaining of his 10-over allocation within the World Cup last, which he referred to as a “dream sport”.

“I did not wish to limp off after 9.three overs,” he stated, stressing bowling on had been a danger price taking. “I would not swap that for the world. To be a World Cup winner, I might take that any day of the week.

“Even when I did not play one other sport of Check cricket, I’ve all the time bought that to look again on with nice reminiscences and suppose that was the head of my profession.”