Wood ready to fuel England fire by taking battle to New Zealand
Paceman will go on the attack in decider
Fifth one-day international Emirates Durham, today, 10:30am
TV: Sky Sports 2 ENGLAND’S batsmen have raised the bar with their all-out attack in the Royal London Series – but fast bowler Mark Wood has taken it upon himself to make sure he, too, is an aggressor against New Zealand.
Fours and sixes are one way of breaking opposition down – and goodness knows, there have been plenty in a contest tied at 2-2 approaching a Durham decider in which the runs aggregate appears set to pass 3,000 for the first time in any five-match series.
But wickets are a priceless currency, too, and the one which interests Wood as he seeks to have a say in his first international appearance on his home ground.
The Durham seamer has timed his run to prominence perfectly, in Test as well as one-day international cricket at the start of an Ashes summer, and knows a haul of wickets here can help England to a heartening series victory and also press his claims to feature against Australia next month.
A sell-out crowd will pack into Emirates Durham ICG, doubtless happy at the prospect of having to dodge some big hits into the stands. But it is Wood’s intention to ensure few Kiwi batsmen get set long enough to do much of the hitting.
“My role as the attacking option is to fight fire with fire,” said the 25-year-old. “If they’re going to come hard, I’m going to come hard as well as try to get them out. I quite enjoy that role.”
England’s brilliant wicketkeeperbatsman Jos Buttler is a likely absentee, after having stitches in split webbing in his left hand, with Jonny Bairstow summoned as cover from Yorkshire Twenty20 duty. Whatever the personnel, Wood anticipates another run-fest – as it has been throughout a series in which it has been a triumph as a bowler to concede anything less than six an over.
“I think it’ll be another high-scoring game ... no doubt we’ll be bowling it down again for the batters to try to smack it!” he said, with a shrug of mock resignation.
“[But] I think wickets are important – and under ten-an-over is obviously good as well! We have to try to take wickets. If you take wickets, that’s the best way to stop the scoring.”
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor knows plenty more runs may well be needed to edge a series which will become the first of its type to break a 3,000 aggregate if a mere 324 more are mustered in Durham.
Current one-day international playing conditions undoubtedly favour the batsmen and Taylor, who has been prolific in four matches so far, jokes that he is intent on cashing in further before planned International Cricket Council tweaks come in later this year.
“[I’ll try to] score as many runs [as possible] until they change the rules,” he said. “I don’t want to put any pressure on myself, because I mightn’t score any runs tomorrow [Saturday].
“But if you get yourself in it’s easier to hit boundaries ...”