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Speedy bowler Mark Wood feels that England must utilize whatever opportunities they have available to prepare for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup, particularly since they won’t be engaging in any official warm-up matches arranged by the ICC. England’s scheduled matches against Pakistan in Headingley and Cardiff were washed out, with only one game resulting in a victory, a 23-run win. Their final match against Pakistan at The Oval is on Thursday, but there’s a looming threat of rain.
“Obviously, it’s not ideal when you schedule four games and we might only get one or two. A few of the lads are keen to get a run out at the Oval, so that will help. It will give confidence to everyone in the group.”
“It was a good game the other day against Pakistan. They looked like they were pushing us really close and might have got there in the end if it wasn’t for such good bowling and shutting the game out from (Reece) Topley, (Chris) Jordan and (Jofra) Archer,” Wood was quoted as saying by Sky Sports Cricket.
Following the conclusion of the series, England will head to Barbados for their first match in the T20 World Cup against Scotland, scheduled for June 4th.
“Yes, we have got experience, but warm-up games always give you a sense of different things you can tinker with. Who is in good form? Who needs to work on other things? Some lads have been playing at the IPL and they are match ready.”
“Other lads haven’t, and the lads that haven’t, is there a freshness? You want the games to practise stuff, but it is a fine balance. One or two of us might feel like we need a game or two to get going, but there will be no excuses. It is coming around thick and fast. Whatever preparation we get, that is what we are going to have to go with,” added Wood.
Jofra Archer, back in the international arena after a hiatus of 14 months, made an impactful return by taking two wickets at Edgbaston. His presence on the field adds an element of constant threat and dynamism, with his ability to influence the course of the game significantly through his wicket-taking prowess.
“He bowled that difficult over — that sixth over is a tough one, it is the last over of the Powerplay where the batters are looking to score heavy, and I am sure he would have been nervous.”
“He is a pretty cool guy, and as soon as he got that over out of the way he would have settled into the game. To bowl those next three overs for next to nothing shows a great deal of resilience, which is something he has had to show over the past few years,” elaborated Wood.
He signed off by saying he was unaware about the idea of him partnering with Archer for the new-ball duties at the T20 World Cup. “I honestly have no idea. That’s a question for the management. But I have played with Jofra before, and I don’t see it’s like me or him. I don’t see why we can’t play together.”
“We played together at the 2019 World Cup and things went pretty well. I don’t see why we can’t play in the same team, but maybe it is up to the management to manage our bodies and see how we get through the tournament.”
