By Ali Martin in Abu Dhabi From The Guardian

England’s latest fast-bowling recruit is not shy of horsing around when the mood takes him but the 25-year-old is ready to saddle up in the Caribbean

“Make sure you ask him about his imaginary horse,” says the Durham batsman – and now auxiliary press officer – Gordon Muchall, with a smile, as he politely helps facilitate a chat with England’s latest fast-bowling recruit, Mark Wood, on the boundary rope during their 50-over pre-season friendly with Sussex on the Zayed Nursery Ground in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

With slight trepidation as to what this means, the question is asked. “I tend to be a bit of a joker on the field,” admits Wood, who has received a first senior call-up for April’s three-Test tour to the Caribbean. “There are times when it gets boring in the field, so I bring out the imaginary horse and try to joust my team-mates. I don’t know how the England boys will take it, but I’ll have a go. I like to have a trot and feed him apples – he loves Granny Smiths.”

And sure enough Wood demonstrates, saddling up this invisible steed and embarking on a light canter around the outfield. This sparky 25-year-old from Ashington, Northumberland, is riding high at present, West Indies-bound after receiving glowing reports from the England management on the Lions tour to South Africa in January. A whippy action from a deceptively slight 5ft 11in frame, Wood generates good pace and, crucially, he gets the old ball to reverse.

These attributes are why Wood, who has played just 23 first-class games in his career, has been fast-tracked into the Test set-up. His father, Derek, was the first to feel his heat. “I used to play in the back garden with my dad but we had to stop when I was about 13,” he reveals. “We had a long thin garden and I’d charge in from the conifers at the back. I kept hitting him on the head.”

Family friend Steve Harmison was his inspiration from a young age. Seeing a fellow fast bowler from his town shine at the highest level convinced him it was possible. “For someone who was labelled as homesick, he pushed me to go overseas and play in Australia to better yourself,” says Wood, who played for Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast, aged 21. “That may surprise some people. He was my hero growing up. Watching him on the TV at the cricket club playing for England, made me want to do the same. I thought: ‘I could be the next Harmy.’ It spurred me on.”

There is a West Indian influence, too. “I know he was before my time but I used to love watching replays of Michael Holding bowling as a kid,” he adds. “As I got older it was Graham Onions as well. I looked up to him and we’re similar types of bowler. If I can be a combination of those three I’ll be all right.”

It was Onions who took him under his wing when Wood joined the Durham academy in 2007. And the former England seamer, who was playing for MCC against Yorkshire here in the desert, has endorsed his credentials and his bubbly personality. “Mark is a cracking lad and he’s willing to learn,” says Onions. “He doesn’t drink either – just Fruit Shoots – which is strange for someone from Ashington. He thoroughly deserved to be selected for England.

“I’m not worried he hasn’t played a great deal of cricket either. Mark already has the ability to bowl 20 overs for 50 runs, whereas a lot of young lads can take wickets but go for runs. I was like that and it normally takes a while.”

The reason for Wood’s sparse first-class career to date is a run of injuries. As we chat, he stands barefoot on the grass with his left ankle heavily bandaged after bowling, something he admits he may have to do for the rest of his career. It looks worse than it is, however, with a rare allergy to sticking plaster meaning less dramatic-looking strapping is not an option. “I can’t use tape – the glue gives me a red rash,” he reveals. “I had back and knee problems as a kid, then last year I tore my side. But I’m a light lad so I needed a foundation, more strength and to be robust. This winter allowed me to do that.”

As well as being joined in the Caribbean by his Durham team-mate Ben Stokes – “I suppose I’ll have to look after him,” Wood sighs, jokingly – the right-armer already knows fellow quicks Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad after working with them on the ECB’s fast bowling performance programme in Potchefstroom, South Africa, before Christmas. Their knowhow was duly tapped. “It was good to pick their brains and get to know them,” he says. “Broad spoke to me about my run-up, with a few tips on how to be more efficient. He spoke to me like any other guy. They were helping me to better myself.”

Wood believes he will have no issues stepping up into a squad of big names, with his Lions experience having already convinced him he belonged among the best of the domestic game already. And a text message from the Test captain last week has set his mind at ease further. “I thought: ‘Wow, this is Alastair Cook,’ and he said if I ever need him, just let him know.”

Full of confidence, Wood, it appears, is now hot to trot.

IMAGE: Mark Wood has made just 23 first-class career appearances but has been selected for England’s three-Test tour to the Caribbean in April. Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images

For more on this story go to: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/25/mark-wood-england-cricket-caribbean-durham-sussex-abu-dhabi