The day after the game, Mark Wood gave a speech in which he acknowledged that he felt scared after the incident and regretted not getting any wickets. He felt that this was a bad result for the team, and he would have much rather taken a wicket in his two-over frugal spell.
England’s T20 World Cup 2024 curtain-raiser featured only 60 deliveries bowled, but there were still plenty of things to consider about the reigning champions’ performance. Alternatively, there was much to be applauded for in the energetic Scottish performance in the short play at Kensington Oval on June 4.
The atmosphere was distinctly gloomy under Bridgetown’s dreary, overcast skies. Scotland’s innings had started slowly, needing 4.2 overs to reach 29/0. But there was a warning for a no-ball after the third delivery of the fifth over. His rare transgression allowed the Scottish openers to take advantage of the situation, amassing 56 runs in the ensuing five overs.
The captain, Jos Buttler, managed to successfully catch a skier after the no-ball delivery. That was, interestingly, only the second time in Wood’s thirty-match T20I career that he had bowled a front-foot no-ball.
Also read: England captain Jos Buttler disagrees with journalist before T20 World Cup 2024 game
“I was going crazy. The fact that I’m getting the wicket off that ball affects the team even though I’m sitting here thinking, “I have one—for whatever, it’s not a problem,” if any of the other balls were no-balls. I’m disappointed because of that. Every time that happens, I think, “Oh no, that’s my fault again,” because if [Munsey] keeps going, he will reverse-sweep Rash. I dislike the sense of disappointing my teammates. I enter feeling like I’ve overstepped and am shocked at myself. Seldom do I go overboard.
According to Mark Wood, whom I cited, “I work hard at it in practice.”
In addition, the 34-year-old reiterated his resolve to do away with overstepping by giving this area more practice and focus during training sessions, particularly in light of the forthcoming high-stakes game against Australia, his bitter opponents. He underlined that a collaborative effort will be needed to improve their performance.
“I thought the new ball could affect the team and I was upset with it. Before the next game, I will address it in training. This is going to be a team effort. I’ll be ready anytime the captain or team needs me, whether we switch things up in the upcoming game,” Wood continued.
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