ENG vs PAK 2024: Mark Wood dissects ‘ideal’ World Cup preparations after weather spoils series

Mark Wood. (Photo Source: Twitter/ECB)

England took on Pakistan in the four-match T20I series in the wake of preparing for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. But the weather gods have hampered their preparations as two games have been washed out due to incessant rain. The teams have been in action only once in the series, when England thwarted Pakistan in the second T20I by 23 runs.

With one game to go and the series poised 1-0 in England’s favour, England pacer Mark Wood feels that the abandoned games have dented the team’s preparation for T20 World Cup. It is worth noting that after the culmination of the series, England will fly to West Indies for the marquee event. They will be taking on Scotland in their World Cup opener in Barbados on June 4.

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“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,” said Wood as quoted by Sky Sports.

Some lads have been playing at the IPL and they are match-ready: Wood

England does not have the privilege of playing a warm-up fixture like others ahead of the global event kickstarts. To add to their woes, some of their players even left the highly competitive Indian Premier League 2024 to play against Pakistan. But, Wood feels that the players coming from IPL 2024 are match-ready, and warm-up fixtures do give a certain edge in tinkering with the squad.

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“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?,” he added.