Wood thinks Australia match is "crucial" for England
Khan Mutasim Billah LifeEditor
Posted - 2024-06-06T13:06:12+06:00
Updated - 2024-06-06T13:06:12+06:00
“You never need to get up for an Australia game but it’s one that’s more important because of the points,” said Wood, as England took a day off from training in weather that would have been welcome at the Kensington Oval 24 hours earlier. Even if it may mean a loss would not eliminate Super Eight hopes. But after Tuesday's washout against Scotland the equation seems to be slightly changed.
"[Against Australia] it is a big chance for us if we get points on the board," Wood said. "If we don’t that makes everything crucial and you have to win by margins [to improve net run-rate] - again with weather around."
Munsey misjudged a mistake off Mark Wood that fell in Jos Buttler's gloves in the fifth over when Scotland were 31 for 0, but the third umpire called a no-ball. Wood's second front-foot no-ball in T20Is caused a new sense of dismay.
"I bowled 13 balls yesterday, and one of them is a wicket and it’s the one I’ve no-balled," Wood said. "If any of the others was the no-ball, I’m probably sitting here thinking, it’s not a problem, but because I’m getting the wicket off that ball it hurts the team. That’s what disappoints me. He [Munsey] reverse-sweeps Rash [Adil Rashid] and every time that's happening I'm thinking 'oh no, that's my fault again. That's the feeling I don't like, letting down my team-mates." Wood said while frowning with guilt.
Head coach Matthew Mott called his players “sloppy” and potentially “nerved” during the 10 overs in the field. Now all eyes are on upcoming match with Australia on Saturday.
The top two teams from each group advance to Super 8. Namibia leads Group B after beating Oman in a super over on Sunday, while Australia play their first match against Oman on Wednesday (01:30 BST on Thursday).
After Australia, England will play Oman on Thursday 13 June and Namibia two days later in Antigua.
