Under-19s arrange orphanage visit

Chris Wood picked up vital wickets in the Under-19s' back-to-back one-day wins

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England Under-19s rounded off their tour of South Africa with an impromptu trip to an orphanage before flying home this week.

The tourists had endured the frustration of their final tour match, the one-off Test against South Africa Under-19s, being abandoned without a ball bowled.

The weather was generally fine on all four days but so much rain had fallen in Benoni prior to the scheduled start that the outfield remained saturated throughout.

The squad could have been forgiven for wanting to get to the airport at the earliest opportunity at the end of a month-long trip.

However, they decided to visit the orphanage in the Guateng township of Alexandra to donate money and surplus cricket equipment.

Hampshire left-arm seamer Chris Wood, one of the most encouraging performers during the tour, takes up the story.

“One of the umpires who umpired our ODIs is connected with the orphanage,” he told ecb.co.uk.

“He recommended we give any kit or any loose change, so we decided as a group that we would give any fines. We had a fines committee and at the end of every week, any silly things that we’d done throughout the week, we’d get fined for it.

“So we’ve gathered a good amount of money and we’re taking it down to the orphanage now to meet all the guys and hand over what’s needed or any spare kit that anyone’s got.”

Wood, 18, impressed on his first Under-19 tour having been spotted by coach Andy Pick.

It was his first involvement in an England age-group set up in contrast to may of his team-mates who have risen through the ranks.

“It was a different experience for me playing for England. I hadn’t played before,” he continued.

“I was due to play for West of England a couple of years ago but fell short because injury ruled me out. Andy came to watch me play in the winter then it all kicked off from there really.

England Under-19 coach Andy Pick spotted Wood's potential

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“It was all a bit of a surprise but I’ve enjoyed it very much and learned may things.”

Wood described the fluctuating emotions he felt as England played out a thrilling one-day series which the hosts clinched in the decider.

“To start with everyone was positive,” he said.

“We couldn’t wait to get the tour under way and then went 2-0 down in the series and got a bit downbeat but then we picked ourselves up for the third one-dayer and everyone was upbeat and really determined to win those two games to get the series back to level.

“And then obviously the camp was very high going into the last ODI but unluckily we fell short at the last hurdle.”

Wood’s finest performances came in the third and fourth one-dayers, both in Paarl, as England stormed back from 2-0 down.

He picked up 3-46 and 2-35 as the tourists won by 55 and eight runs respectively.

“In the third ODI, I hadn’t bowled particularly well in the previous two so I thought it was my turn to step it up and in that game I managed to take three-for, taking two wickets in two overs to get their opening batsmen to get us off to a good start,” he added.

“In the fourth ODI I also took two-for which was crucial in the match so I guess that was my second highlight.”

Wood’s abiding memory of the tour was a sense of togetherness among the squad.

He hopes to be involved in the summer matches against Bangladesh Under-19s but will not be eligible for next year’s World Cup.

“We have an excellent group of lads which also helps. Everyone’s chipping in with each other giving good banter between the lads,” he said.

“Everyone’s enjoyed each other’s company so you don’t feel like there’s separate groups in the camp which is a good thing.”