“Our focus was on attacking Indian batters”: Mark Wood opens up on Brendon McCullum’s influence on bowlers
Brendon McCullum’s influence is transforming not just England’s batting strategy but also the mindset of their bowling attack, according to pacer Mark Wood. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the 3rd T20I in the series, Wood explained that the team’s bowling approach is now centered on taking wickets, even if it means conceding a few extra runs.
England pacer Jofra Archer recently faced heavy criticism on social media after conceding 60 runs in his four overs while defending a target of 165 in the 2nd T20I in Chennai. Archer struggled against Tilak Varma at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, who hammered him for four sixes behind square.
“Our bowling unit delivered a good performance in the previous match. With a target of 167 to defend, our focus was on attacking and taking wickets. While some overs went for a few extra runs, I believed our best chance of winning was to bowl them out,” he explained.
“We have plenty of options—Livingstone, Bethell if he returns, and a solid pace-bowling group. Looking back, maybe one or two overs could have been different, but overall, we kept applying pressure on the Indian batters,” Wood commented.
“I feel my performance has been a bit inconsistent. There have been positive moments, and it’s encouraging that my pace is up and the ball feels good coming out of my hand. However, my accuracy hasn’t been where I want it to be. Considering I hadn’t played since August and have only had two matches since then, it’s somewhat expected,” he admitted.
“The more I play, the more I hope to improve as we approach the 50-over matches and the Champions Trophy. I’ll keep working hard and refining my skills during training, aiming to sharpen my focus and deliver better performances,” he concluded.
Reflecting on his own bowling, Wood expressed satisfaction with the pace he’s been able to generate. The pacer had been sidelined for the latter half of the 2024 season due to a bone stress injury in his right elbow. Last year, Wood revealed the severity of his condition, sharing that he was advised against even lifting his children due to the injury.
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