Mark Wood insists he and Jofra Archer CAN both fit in the England team as they prepare to defend their T20 World Cup crown next month

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Mark Wood believes there is room in the T20 team for both him and Jofra Archer as England prepare for Thursday’s final warm-up game against Pakistan at The Oval.

Rain has hampered their build-up to Tuesday’s World Cup opener against Scotland in Barbados, washing out the two of the three matches against the Pakistanis. 

But Wood says England will not be using that as an excuse as they look to defend their title – and insists he and Archer can recreate the vibe of 2019, when they bowled together in 10 of England’s 11 games at the 50-over World Cup.

‘I’ve played with Jofra before, and I don’t see it as me or him,’ he said. ‘I don’t see why we can’t play together. We did at the 2019 World Cup and things went pretty well.’

England’s two fastest bowlers have played only one ODI and one T20 together since March 2021. 

Mark Wood (left) says there's a place for him and Jofra Archer (right) on England's T20 team

Happy times for Wood (centre) and Archer (left) who featured together during 2019 World Cup

The fastest bowlers have played only one ODI and one T20 together since March 2021

But Wood has been wrapped in cotton wool to protect his left knee, while Archer has only just returned from elbow trouble, so both may have to be managed through a tournament in which the finalists will play nine matches in four weeks and spend plenty of time on flights. 

Their focus will be less on the speedgun, more on taking the field.

‘I just want to let Jofra bowl and show what he’s capable of, without having to say: “I bowled faster,”’ said Wood. ‘For both of us, it’s just stay fit, take wickets and try to affect games.’

The washouts at Headingley and Cardiff mean the two men may team up as early as today, as England risk arriving in the Caribbean under-prepared.

‘We’re a professional side, we’re the England cricket team, we’ve got everything we need,’ said Wood. ‘We should be able to adapt and, when we get out there, that’s the time to turn it on.’