‘GREED IS GOOD FOR ENGLAND’
England v Afghanistan
World Cup T20 opener, next Sat, Perth, 12pm EXCLUSIVE BY DEAN WILSON
ENGLAND have been told to ‘get greedy’ as they try to win a World Cup that would cement the legacy of a golden era.
With just one global trophy – the 2019 World Cup – to show for a stellar turnaround in performance since 2015, there is a danger that one of the most successful periods in English short-form cricket might go under-rewarded.
A final and a semi-final in the past two T20 World Cups, plus a semi-final in the Champions Trophy, is good, but not great.
However, pace spearhead Mark Wood believes that this Jos Buttler team now has a strong chance of securing some more silverware Down Under.
“I’m very excited,” said Wood. “I think we can do really well out here in this T20 World Cup.
“I wouldn’t say we’re the favourites, but we’ve got a dangerous team full of people who can stand up and be matchwinners.
“The last T20 World Cup was a big disappointment. This time we’ve got a great opportunity to do better, and to make sure this current era of England white-ball sides is well-remembered.
“We want people to say, ‘Wow what a team that was! One of the greatest that we’ve ever had’.
“And the way you do that is by winning things. You want your legacy to be a team that won things. Can we defend the 50-over title in 2023? Can we win T20 World Cups? If we can, then this team will be remembered as one of the best.
“When we look back, if we have only won one trophy, it’ll be a bit… well, you want to be greedy and win two or three trophies to cement your place in history.”
At least Wood is fit and available to go for a format where game-breaking, wicket-taking fast bowlers are worth their weight in gold.
Elbow and ankle injuries ruled him out of the entire English summer, but he has timed his run to full fitness to perfection, even if he is making heavy use of the ice machine to keep his ankle under control.
“I’m half man, half penguin,” joked Wood after another session with the chiller. “On the field I’ve been happy. I’ve been taking wickets and my pace has been up there.
“I’ve not played every game, to be sure I don’t push too hard, and as [Aussie legend] Mark Waugh said to me the other day, ‘Just keep the Ferrari in the garage, mate’.
“I want to play in every game, and hopefully I can take the handbrake off and keep my pace right up there – which I feel I should be able to do because I’m fresh. The body is in a good position right now for me to bowl fast.”