Whenever I Get 20 I start Thinking Myself as Don Bradman Says Mark Wood
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:07 PM
English pacer Mark Wood managed to score his maiden Test half-century during the 2nd Test against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. He negotiated some brilliant deliveries with the 2nd new ball and played some good shots. He batted with Jonny Bairstow and from a precarious situation of 164/7 and helped them reach a competitive 290/8 at the end of the opening day’s play. Wood who had a previous best score of 32 is seen without a smile on most occasions.
“I’ve got a Test 50 before a five-for. That’s the wrong way round,” he said afterwards and then spent most of the time praising his partner, Bairstow. “It was nice to have Jonny at the other end. We first played against each other as 12-year-olds when Northumberland met Yorkshire.” The fast bowler added that the familiarity also helped.
“We were having a bit of a laugh out there. ‘Oh look there’s another bouncer from Waggers [Neil Wagner]’ so that helped us to forget the situation and just concentrate on each other.” Meanwhile coming back to the partnership between Bairstow and Woods, both applied themselves well and stitched together a 95 runs partnership.
“Jonny constructs an innings – he’s a batsman,” added Wood. “I chanced my arm a bit. Jonny’s done it before and it was great to be there with him. He sticks his chest out after the bouncer and there’s a little bit of arrogance. I like that and sometimes the bowler can get a bit frustrated. I had a great time with him except for my last ball [Wood was bowled by Tim Southee with the final ball of the 79th over]. That was a bit rubbish to have Leachy come in for the new ball.”
Wood admitted to the fact that he played at:
“The trouble is,” he said, “when I get to 20 I think I’m like Bradman and play too many shots. Sometimes I get ahead of myself. There were a lot of bouncers, especially when Wagner was bowling, and that may have helped. At least I knew where the ball was likely to be.” It was one of those bouncers that Wood cracked over ropes at square leg.
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