Speaking before the news of Wood’s injury, former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie said he was “concerned about the strength” of England’s attack.
“Do they have enough bench work to be fit and strong enough to bowl at a high, consistent rate for an entire match and then back it up in subsequent matches?” Gillespie told Stumped on BBC World Service.
“That’s the big question for me.”
Wood’s absence would be keenly felt by England in the day-and-night conditions at the Gabba, a ground where they have not won since 1986.
England have a poor record in lit Tests, having won just two of their previous seven, including three defeats in Australia.
Australia has won 13 of its 14 day-night matches and, in Mitchell Starc, has the best pink bowler in the world.
The pink ball doesn’t behave any differently than its red counterpart, but it may be harder to see under the lights.
Part of Starc’s success in pink-ball matches is the number of deliveries he bowls at over 87mph and Wood, England’s fastest option, took nine wickets the last time he played a day-night Test against Australia in Hobart in 2022.
Speaking on the For The Love of Cricket podcast, former England seamer Stuart Broad said: “There’s something about the pink ball, you just can’t pick it up as well. You also don’t get clues, so the seam is black against the pink background, whereas with a red ball and a white seam you can see Mitchell Starc’s swinger coming back to the stumps or climbing.
“It’s just that the lights reflect off the pink ball, so it’s almost like a big planet coming flying towards you.
“It means you just judge it by movement off the surface or reading the movement of the ball, but at that pace it’s quite difficult to do.”
