Sports

Woakes hopes England capitalise on NZ injuries

Home side calls up Southee, Rutherford for second ODI.

News Desk February 18, 2013

“With the ball, I didn’t finish as well as I would have liked to. But to pick up two wickets in the middle was pleasing,” says Woakes. PHOTO: AFP

England fast bowler Chris Woakes has said that Alastair Cook’s side could benefit from injuries to New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan and Martin Guptill as they aim to bounce back and win the next two One-Day Internationals (ODI) of the three-match series

New Zealand claimed victory at Hamilton on Sunday by three wickets, but the win came at a price.

McClenaghan, who picked up four wickets in the match suffered a side strain that has ruled him out for the rest of the three-match series. While Guptill, who scored an unbeaten 27 while playing with a left hamstring strain to guide the hosts to victory, would be sidelined for at least the second match in Napier.

Woakes hopes England can take advantage of New Zealand’s injury misfortune, according to The Guardian.

“When you lose two of your top XI, it’s important,” he said. “I hope we can capitalise on that. McClenaghan has been good so far, and in the Twenty20 series. So it’s got to be better for us [that he’s out].”

New Zealand have brought paceman Tim Southee and batsman Hamish Rutherford into the squad for the second ODI tomorrow following the injuries to McClenaghan and Guptill.

Rutherford, 23, made his international debut in the Twenty20 series against England earlier this month, which New Zealand lost 2-1.

The 24-year-old swing bowler Southee returns to the national fold after recovering from ligament damage to his left thumb.

Meanwhile, Woakes said he was satisfied with his performance in the first ODI, although a win would have been more pleasing.

“I thought my performance was okay,” he said. “However, it would have been nice to have stayed in till the end with the bat, and put some more runs on the board. Obviously, we thought we were slightly short with the bat. So it would have been nice to contribute there a little bit more.

“With the ball, I didn’t finish as well as I would have liked to. But to pick up two wickets in the middle was pleasing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2013.