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T20 World Cup: England will have “no excuses” despite weather-hit build-up – Mark Wood – BBC Sport

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T20 World Cup: England will have “no excuses” despite weather-hit build-up – Mark Wood – BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Wood has not played a T20 for England since March 2023

Bowler Mark Wood says England will have “no excuses” at the T20 World Cup, despite their disrupted build-up.

England planned this month’s four-match series against Pakistan as their warm-up to the tournament but the first and third matches were washed out without a ball being bowled.

The fourth T20 at The Oval on Thursday, which is live on BBC Two and iPlayer, is their last before their World Cup opener against Scotland in Barbados on 4 June, but more rain is forecast.

“You want the games to practise stuff, but it’s a fine balance,” Wood said.

  • Author, Matthew Henry
  • Role, BBC Sport Journalist

“One or two of us might feel like we need a game or two to get going, but there will be no excuses.

“We’re a professional side, we’re the England cricket team, we’ve got everything we need.

“We should be able to adapt, and when we get out there that’s when the time to turn it on is.”

The weather-hit series comes after more than half of England’s squad returned early from the Indian Premier League to prepare.

“You can look at both sides,” Wood said.

“Some lads have been playing at the IPL and they’re match ready. The lads that haven’t, is there a freshness?

“At the IPL, you’re playing all the time, other lads have seen your tricks, they’ve seen what you’re doing.”

Coach Matthew Mott also missed a day of training because of a family issue while captain Jos Buttler was absent from their third T20 because of the imminent birth of his third child but England are also not the only side to have troubled preparation for the World Cup.

Head coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey were among four members of the backroom staff who took the field for Australia against Namibia on Tuesday with only nine players available because of commitments at the IPL.

Wood, meanwhile, has not played since England’s fifth Test in India on 9 March because of a knee issue but would have returned in the third T20 in Cardiff on Tuesday but for the weather.

Thursday’s match at The Oval would be his first T20 of any kind since April 2023.

“It will be important for me, to be honest with you,” Wood said.

“I actually feel like I’m getting to the stage where I’m off my full run, I’m ready to play.

“I feel I was in a position to bowl quickly and test it out.”

Video caption, Jofra Archer takes two wickets on England return
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