Durham & England quick bowler Mark Wood is set for a red ball return in the penultimate Specsavers County Championship match of the season against Leicestershire.
Wood has been building his fitness up after last featuring in the Vitality Blast quarter-final defeat against Sussex & makes a return for the final two games of the season.
He will not only bolster Durham’s bowling ranks as Jon Lewis’ side aim to end on a high after a draw & win over Warwickshire & Sussex respectively, but will have one eye on England’s squad selection for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.
Wood replaces Axar Patel in the squad, with the Indian spinner completing his spell with the Club due to international commitments in the Asia Cup.
Patel scored 147 runs during his four-game spell, with a best of 95 not out in his debut at Sophia Gardens, & took 18 wickets at a lowly average of 13 – making career-best figures of 7/54 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Barry McCarthy is in contention after being ruled out against Sussex with injury, while Ben Whitehead is included in the squad after impressing in the Vitality Blast campaign & could be in line for a first-class debut.
It is also Paul Collingwood’s penultimate game as a professional cricketer before he retires.
Ben Raine, who penned a three-year deal with the Club for next season & beyond, is not included in Leicestershire’s squad due to injury.
Squad vs Leicestershire (18-21 September)
Match Coverage
Leicestershire offer a live streaming service for Specsavers County Championship matches & this is available via the link below.
Live match highlights are available through the ‘Match Highlights’ section of the website, with updates via the Club’s Twitter account.
Live commentary is broadcasted via BBC Sport online with BBC Newcastle’s Martin Emmerson.
A live scorecard is also available via our Match Centre.