HYDERABAD: England’s Mark Wood expressed satisfaction with his restricted role in their exciting triumph against India in the inaugural Test match against India in Hyderabad.
Despite only delivering just eight overs in the second innings, Wood showed no grievances about his role in the 1st test. The sterling performance from Ollie Pope, who amassed 196 runs, coupled with a stellar seven-wicket display by debutant Tom Hartley, propelled England to a 28-run victory on Sunday, kickstarting the five-match series on a high note.
Captain Ben Stokes’ decision to field four spinners, leaving Wood as the only seamer in the starting lineup, proved astute as they clinched win, marking India’s fourth defeat in their last 48 home Tests.
Mark Wood ‘Not Annoyed’ by Limited Role in Victory Against India in 1st Test
“When we were at the ground, Stokes said probably one or two,” Wood told media.
“I mean, I thought I may not even open the bowling second innings. But it was like, ‘one over; that’s it’. “Very hardly would you think you’d bowl one over and then be off. But I trust what he says.
One over? Right, okay, I’ll give it everything for this over. “And then he said ‘rest’ and I’m not angry. Like, I get it, we’re going to spin now. So, it’s just a bit dissimilar.”
In the Test match, India’s Jasprit Bumrah claimed six wickets, with four of them coming in the second innings for just 41 runs. Meanwhile, Wood remained without a wicket despite bowling 25 overs throughout the match.
