Every English Pacer Is Dying To Bowl At The Seam-Friendly Ahmedabad: Mark Wood
Feb 20, 2021 at 3:07 PM
Mark Wood of England has said that the pacers of his team are dying to get hold of the swinging pink ball, ahead of the Day-Night Test against India at Ahmedabad.
Before the 3rd Test between India and England, England pacer Mark Wood has said that he along with his fellow pace teammates James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes are “dying” to bowl with the pink ball in Ahmedabad from February 24.
Mark Wood: England Have Got Good Depth In Pace Bowling And Are Confident
Mark Wood, who was included in England squad for the last 2 Tests, said that England pacers were impressed with the SG pink ball during their net practice sessions. Besides giving a soft warning signal to India, Mark Wood added that England bowlers can be lethal as soon as the ball starts moving.
“We’ve been bowling with them in the nets they have swung quite a bit and they’ve lasted longer which was interesting to see,” he said.
“With the ball, as soon as it moves, every one of the bowlers from the past couple of months is dying to get it in their hand. I’m not the only one who’s trying to get hold of it.”
“As soon as the ball moves we know how good our seam bowlers can be. We’ve got good depth there, good skills, and two of the best ever (James Anderson and Stuart Broad). Hopefully, if the ball does move and it is seamer-friendly we can be very confident going into the game,” he said.
Stuart Broad didn’t play the 1st Test but played the 2nd Test where he wet wicketless despite bowing 20 overs on a spin-friendly pitch at Chennai. James Anderson picked 5 wickets averaging a meager 12.6 in 1st Test but was rested for the second. Jofra Archer picked 3 scalps bowling 30.1 overs in the 1st Test but missed the 2nd with an elbow niggle as Olly Stone and Stuart Broad were picked in XI in the 2nd encounter. Olly Stone picked 4 scalps in the two innings combined.
Mark Wood: Swing Movement Makes It Feel Quicker For Batsmen
It remains to be seen whether pacer Mark Wood gets a chance to take the field in the upcoming Day-Night Test or not but the 31-year-old has kept his plans ready irrespective of selection. He aims to bowl fast and expects the movement of the swinging ball to make his delivery look quicker.
“The wickets in the nets have been a bit green and had good pace and carry too. I don’t know if that’s anything to go by or whether it’s a bit of a trick.”
“Being a fast bowler, trying to take wickets is my job and the captain has used me as a bit of a battering ram.”
“It should be the same here because I’ll charge in just the same, but the movement should make it even deadlier. Any sort of movement you can get, at that pace, makes it feel quicker for batsmen and that will be the trick for us,” Mark Wood added.
Jofra Archer was Most Valuable Player in IPL 2020 though his franchise Rajasthan Royals finished last. Jofra Archer has picked 41 scalps averaging 31.22 in 12 Tests. In the 1st Test won by England, he picked crucial scalps of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the 1st innings. Jofra Archer is coming into the India series after a refreshing break as he was rested for the Sri Lanka series.
It will be interesting to see the fast bowlers that England picks in their playing 11 in the day-night Test given the fact that the addition of Mark Wood in the squad has only given them too many options to choose from.