Ahead of the day-night Test at Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Stadium, Mark Wood said the England seamers are feeling excited by their early experience with the pink ball at nets and warned India that the tourists’ bowlers can be lethal as soon as the ball starts moving.
At the moment, the ongoing four-match Test series between India and England is level at 1-1 and now the series is heading into the day-night Test at the new 110,000-capacity Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, where both teams have started preparations for the pink-ball Test starting February 24.
Wood, who has returned to the England squad for the last 2 Tests, said England pacers were impressed with the SG pink ball during their net sessions at Motera Stadium and said he alongside his teammates James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes are “dying” to bowl with the pink ball in the upcoming third Test against India in Ahmedabad next week.
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He believes that England would have a great chance to win the day-night Test against India if the pink ball moves around and it is seamer-friendly at the world’s biggest cricket stadium – Motera Stadium.
Wood said during a virtual interaction on Friday: “We've been bowling with them in the nets they have swung quite a bit and they've lasted longer which was interesting to see.”
He continued, “With the ball, as soon as it moves, every one of the bowlers from the past couple of months is dying to get it in their hand. I'm not the only one who's trying to get hold of it.”
As soon as the ball moves we know how good our seam bowlers can be. We've got good depth there, good skills, and two of the best ever (James Anderson and Stuart Broad). Hopefully, if the ball does move and it is seamer-friendly we can be very confident going into the game.”
Wood signed off by saying, “The wickets in the nets have been a bit green and had good pace and carry too. I don't know if that's anything to go by or whether it's a bit of a trick.”
(With PTI Inputs)
