MARK Wood can’t have asked for a much better introduction to life as an England bowler, but Durham legend Paul Collingwood insists his teammate is only just getting started.

Since May Wood has featured in five of England’s six Tests against New Zealand and Australia, making the most of the opportunity afforded to him.

Ahead of the final meeting with the Aussies, starting on Thursday, Wood has taken 18 wickets in those five matches at an average of 30.25.

The 25-year-old has also certainly played his part as England regained the Ashes, taking nine victims over three Tests, including grabbing the final wicket that confirmed the urn would return to these shores.

But despite this fast start on the international stage, Durham’s first-class captain Collingwood believes this is just the tip of the iceberg for Wood in a Three Lions shirt.

"Mark's laid back but he takes his game very seriously and I know he's thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in the England team and he's given a lot to the team as well,” said Collingwood, speaking at an ECB Club Open Day event at Elworth Cricket Club.

"He's a very skilful bowler, he obviously bowls a good pace but he's also very skilful in the way that he moves the ball in the air. He's very raw in terms of he's just started.

"I think everybody can see he's got some huge talent there and I'm sure he'll just get better and better from now on.

"I've been impressed since he made his debut at Durham and knew that he had the raw talent and the raw skills to make it at the top and you've got to bowl a few balls towards 90 miles per hour plus and to be able to swing the ball both ways.

"You're going to cause international batsman a lot of problems and so I knew he had the talent but it was great to see him take that winning wicket last week and being part of a team that has grown so quickly over the past few months.

"To have a guy like that who's very relaxed in the dressing room, he plays with a lot of humour. It's important the dressing room is like that as well for fulfilling the talent that you've got in there."

Wood has been so impressive that he is fully expected to keep his pace in the England team at the Oval on Thursday.

After they then take on Australia in a T20 game and five ODIs, then England travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to take on Pakistan in three Tests, and Collingwood is backing Wood to shine on any surface.

"The good thing about Woody is he's a skiddy bowler and he's very good with the reverse swing,” he added.

“So he should in all conditions be able to find an aspect of his game to cause problems for batsman and there's not many bowlers you can say that do that but I think with his genuine pace and the way he reverse swings the ball, I still think he'll be very hard to play against in the sub continent.

"You still need a bowler that will be looked after in terms of fitness but hopefully he'll be in the England team for many years to come."

For more information about Club Open Days, supported by Waitrose, including a full list of clubs registered, visit ecb.co.uk/clubopendays