Ashes-winning approach will not work for England in United Arab Emirates, says seamer Mark Wood
Seamer Mark Wood believes England will need to adopt different tactics to enjoy success against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates from the rip-roaring approach which brought Ashes joy in the summer.
The tourists drew the first warm-up match of their tour after Pakistan A chalked up 216-5 at Sharjah in response to the England’s 286-5 declared. All-rounder Moeen Ali claimed 3-41, while batsman Iftikhar Ahmed struck an unbeaten 92.
England were irresistible at times during the Ashes, particularly in beating Australia on green-tinged wickets at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, although Wood concedes that spin-friendly conditions in the Emirates warrant a different mindset.
“We’ve talked about playing aggressive cricket and attacking cricket, but in these conditions you can’t blast teams out, you have to sit and be patient,” said Wood.
“Wickets can fall quickly and then all of a sudden you can be four down in a hurry and that changes the momentum of the game. We’ve just got to be patient. When we get one then that’s the time to attack and try to get two or three quickly.”
England begin their final warm-up match against Pakistan A tomorrow.