Mark Wood available for Ashes opener after being cleared of hamstring injury

Mark Wood has been cleared to resume his Ashes preparations after a scan on his left hamstring, where he had reported some “stiffness” on Thursday, found no damage. “Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,” the England & Wales Cricket Board said in a statement. “Wood will continue to train as planned in the build-up to the first Test in Perth.” Related: Joe Root splutters but Ollie Pope prospers in England’s Ashes warm-up The 33-year-old is expected to sit out Saturday’s third and final day of England’s solitary warm-up fixture, against the Lions at Lilac Hill on the outskirts of Perth, but will be available for selection when the first Test gets under way at Perth Stadium on 21 November. The news will come as a huge relief to an England camp that has identified express-pace bowling as their most likely route to success in the Ashes, carefully nursing the injury-prone Wood and Jofra Archer through a succession of injuries and back to full fitness in time to join the squad in Australia. Brydon Carse, whose involvement across the first two days against the Lions was limited to facing three balls with the bat late on Friday after reporting stomach issues the previous morning, will play a full part in the game’s conclusion after making a full recovery.