Mark Wood finds criticism about his training unsettling, but England's team doesn't make things easier with media scrutiny.
The Uncensored Word on Mark Wood Strikes Back
England's Mark Wood has clapped back at the criticism about England's training methods, calling it a colossal misconception. But he admits the team occasionally comes off as naive in their media talks.
Recently discussing the buzz surrounding England's training tactics on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Wood was probed about the noise outside the team's training regimen. The criticism had intensified following England's seven out of eight defeats during their India tour, with ex-players and commentators like Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Shastri slamming the team for their lack of preparation[1].
Two weeks ago, Pietersen reaffirmed his criticism, asserting he stood by every word. He slammed the situation as "shameful" and ranted, "Guys don't go and play golf every day and wing it."
"This whole thing makes me feel a bit uneasy," Wood confessed. "I think this entire thing is so far from the truth. And I think sometimes we've been so reckless, a tad foolish in the things we say to the press."
He added, "We say things in the dressing room, things that should stay there. And when we go out in the press and make careless, off-the-cuff remarks, it gets twisted, and all of a sudden we're seen as cocky, overconfident, arrogant, above our station. And I don't necessarily like that."
Wood pointed out that golf doesn't take priority over training. "The lads enjoy it, and it's their time off. But it's like the golf takes center stage, and that's not the case at all. When we train, especially under Stokes, McCullum, that's when we push ourselves to the limit."
"Sometimes, if it's scorching 35-degrees in Pakistan, we hold back for a day before a game. It's about being sensible," said the fast bowler, currently recuperating from knee surgery, expressing hope to return for England's Test series against India later this year[1].
While Wood defended the team with passion, he agreed that there's room for improvement in how they project themselves. "The lads don't take playing for England for granted. There's this notion that 'Oh well, we'll just go play golf, this is the best gig in the world' are the quotes thrown around. I understand people's frustration, but I'm telling you, people genuinely care, genuinely work hard. There's a narrative that we don't care. It hurts when we lose - nobody enjoys losing - and I think the quotes that come out from the team sometimes... we could definitely improve those because they don't convey the true feelings."
"It's not like I'm giving all our players a hard time. I'm not coming at them, saying, 'You shouldn't have said that in the interview.' I want people to be genuine, honest, and play with personality. When you ask questions, you want honest answers and the truth - but this entire 'Golf, golf, golf' narrative annoys me."
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- Despite the criticism from ex-players like Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Shastri regarding England's training methods and their alleged preference for golf, Mark Wood has stated that it is a misconception and golf is just a method of relaxation for the team.
- Mark Wood admitted that sometimes the team's media talks can come off as naive and reckless, leading to inappropriate interpretations of their comments, such as being labeled as cocky or overconfident.
- Wood emphasized the importance of genuine and honest attitudes from players, while also acknowledging that the team should be more careful with the messages they present to the public, as they don't always accurately reflect the hard work and dedication that goes into playing for England.
