Taskin Ahmed is mighty impressive, he's impressed everybody not just me: Mark Wood

Ahead of the third and final ODI clash, England pacer Mark Wood claimed that it was Taskin Ahmed who helped his side get better in the bowling department in the first two matches. The Three Lions have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series and will play the final clash against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday, March 6.

Leading into the final 50-over clash, during a press conference, Mark Wood was asked on whether the tracks in Bangladesh have assisted the pacers. In response, the Englishman claimed that Bangla pacer Taskin ‘helped’ their bowlers on which areas to bowl on the deck.

"Taskin (Ahmed) is mighty impressive. I think he's impressed everybody not just me. The whole team has said how well he has bowled and he's bowled quickly, hitting good lengths. In our first game, he showed our seamers where to bowl really,” Mark Wood was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

“We took a lot from his performance, myself, Jofra (Archer) and Woaksy (Chris Woakes). The areas he bowled, put us under pressure. He kept it tight as well, not just taking wickets but keeping things tights. Mighty impressive and someone who the (England) batters said has performed really well. I don't want to see him (Taskin) do badly but hopefully he doesn't mock this game and take lots of wickets,” added Wood.

England aiming to build ‘core’ team for 2023 ODI World Cup

Jos Buttler-led England’s utter capitulation in the second ODI saw them extend their lead in the series against the Bangla Tigers. The final ODI fixture in Chattogram marks England’s last 50-over game until they play New Zealand at the tail end of the English summer, by which time the ODI World Cup squad would likely have been announced. 

This essentially means that the side will need to swiftly obtain a ‘core’ team just in time for the ODI World Cup. The team along with the management will look to ideate plans to obtain a suitable squad in order to defend their title when they play the rest of the national sides in India during October-November.