Pakistan gets a warning from Paul Collingwood ahead of ODI series

Durham skipper and former England cricketer Paul Collingwood was in all praise for the speedster Mark Wood ahead of the ODI series against Pakistan. Wood is included in the 15-member squad for the ODI series against Pakistan.

The 26-year old Wood had played for England recently in last October in Dubai against Pakistan. Wood had troubled some of the best of the batsmen with the speed gun reading over 90mph. “He made me look as if I was batting with my hands and feet on backwards,” England star batsman Joe Root said about him.

Durham lost to Northamptonshire in the Natwest T20 final, despite Mark Wood’s fiery spell. “He’s ideal for this form of the game because he knows he’s only got four overs to bowl and he’s going to try to bowl every single one at full tilt,” Collingwood told reporters after the final.

“He’s not worried about second or third spells. He’s a genuine wicket-taker and in the current game of T20 cricket, where guys give themselves a base and want to hit out, it certainly gives you another thing to think about when you can get hit on the head at real pace,” he added.

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England is set to play one T20 international in the series, after the ODI series and Wood will be a bright prospect for that. “That’s why he takes his wickets. He got good quality international batsmen out today (Saturday) with pure pace. He’s a great man to have in a T20 side.”

Collingwood is confident that he will be absolutely fit for the ODI squad. “Certainly, with the white ball (limited overs), he’s ready because, as I said he doesn’t have to come back for second and third spells,” Collingwood added. “He bowled 20-odd overs against Middlesex last week in a four-day (first-class, County Championship) game and obviously his body is still getting used to those sort of spells, but he is going to cause a lot of problems with the white ball, that’s for sure.”

Northamptonshire captain Alex Wakely, who played a crucial knock in the final said that Wood deserves to get back into the England squad soon. “He’s quick,” said Wakely. “He bowled some quick balls out there — he’s going to get back in that England team before long. “We said ‘it doesn’t matter if (his overs) goes for two or three (runs), just get through it and we can capitalise on the other bowlers.”