They are giants shoes to fill, those of Jimmy Anderson as England's lead paceman. But, as their captain Alastair Cook noted, in terms of understudies for the role Stuart Broad is an immensely well-credentialed one.
"I don't think there's been too many cases in history where a guy has 299 wickets and played 80-odd Tests and he's waiting to lead the attack," said Cook about Broad, whose father Chris has returned in time from match-referee duties in Bangladesh to witness what will hopefully be his son's 300th Test wicket - during an Ashes series at his home ground of Trent Bridge, no less.
"I think it's a great moment for him in terms of his home ground and stuff," Cook said of Broad. "I'm sure he'd like to be there with Jimmy as well but the times have to change and things move on in certain games and it's 'Broady' to step up a bit, and other bowlers as well."
That Broad has played all but five of his 82 Tests alongside Anderson is a nod to the latter's durability, as is the record of England having played only two home Tests without him in the past eight years.
Australia captain Michael Clarke began the suggestion the injury to Anderson's could be England's "McGrath moment of 2005", in relation to an injury to Australian champion Glenn McGrath, in the aftermath of the Edgbaston loss and raised it again during final preparations for Trent Bridge. Batting coach Michael Di Venuto and recently retired fast-bowler Ryan Harris also endorse Clarke's suggestion about the implications of Anderson missing at least the Test in Nottingham due to a side strain.
Cook declined to bite on whether England should be emboldened by just how much Australia are savouring the absence of Anderson.
"I suppose it has its similarities [to McGrath's injury] in one sense, but we don't know how the result is going to go . . . at the end of the series I'm sure whoever writes about the series will come up with their own thoughts," he said.
"Clearly Jimmy is going to be missed, we can't sit here and deny that. With the skills he's got and his record, especially here at Trent Bridge. A hundred Test matches - you can't buy that experience at [supermarket chain and England team sponsor] Waitrose, or any kind of cliche you want to use . . . but as I said at the end of Edgbaston - and I genuinely believe it's true - we have to look at it as an opportunity. The guy coming in has got a great opportunity to form a new attack."
An encouraging training performance on Tuesday from Wood raised expectations England selectors had seen enough to be confident the 25-year-old had recovered from his ankle injury and was able to replace Anderson in the pace attack.
Broad said he was determined not to attach too much significance to being the acting leader of the attack during Anderson's absence, in a match he is likely to reach a key wickets milestone.
"The importance of that is not to apply too much pressure to myself. That doesn't change my role particularly," Broad said.
"I do not want to look too far ahead about getting that 300th wicket because that will take me away from what I talked about earlier of sticking to my gameplan and routines. It would be a dream come true to get it at Trent Bridge.
"Obviously the chance to get 300 Test wickets would be a proud moment with my parents and grandma here. It would be a special place to get it. It would be more special if it is in 5-20 not 1-150."
The latter was, incidentally, almost the exact figures Broad recorded the previous time he led England's attack in the absence of Anderson: 1-154, in July 2011 in a home draw against Sri Lanka.
