Indian tailenders have frustrated us, says England pacer Wood

Mark Wood

One of the main reasons why Team India have a 2-1 lead going into the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford is because of the contribution from the lower-order. At Lord's, during the second Test, it was Jasprit Bumrah (34 not out) and Mohammed Shami (56 not out), who put on a stunning, unbeaten 89-run partnership for the ninth wicket to help India post 298-8 in the second innings. It ended up being a match-defining stand in India's 151-run win.

At The Oval too, Shardul Thakur's innings of 57 and 60 boosted India's prospects in the match. The visitors eventually won by 157 runs. While the English bowlers have been successful in keeping a tight leash on India skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in the Pataudi Trophy, the tailenders have wagged their tail, providing the visitors with much-needed resistance. England pacer Mark Wood admitted that it was frustrating to see the Indian tailenders flourish in testing conditions.

‘Got our plans wrong'

"It is frustrating when the tailenders get runs. Obviously, we got our plans wrong at Lord's. I feel partly responsible for that. I should be able to get the tailenders out no matter what the plans are. So, that is something I should be doing it right if I am bowling here [at Manchester]," said Wood during a virtual interaction facilitated by series broadcaster Sony Pictures Network.

Wood reckoned getting rid of the top order as early as possible is the only way to finish off the tailenders for England to have a chance to draw the series. "At Headingley [third Test], I think we managed to wrap things up pretty quickly with the tailenders. The last game at The Oval…yes it was frustrating, but when you are tired bowling 30 overs and the wicket is pretty flat, it is easy for the tailenders to bat.

‘It makes a huge difference'

So, if we can try to get early wickets, and by the time the tailenders come in, we would be bowling our third, fourth and fifth spells rather than our sixth, seventh and eighth spells. It does make a huge difference. "We just have to remember our plans and how to get them out. They [Indian tailenders] obviously have been working hard on their batting, so it is important to stick to our plans," said Wood.

The pacer is hoping the English tailenders too show some resistance in the final Test, starting September 10. "We are working hard in the nets. If the tailenders get runs, it lifts the mood in the camp. We have got to remember that we can bounce back and we have done that in this series," said Wood.

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