SHARJAH: Fast bowler Mark Wood urged his England team-mates on Tuesday to take their chances during the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan, just as they did during the victorious Ashes series against Australia earlier this year.

Speaking after England’s two-day practice match against a Pakistan ‘A’, Wood said patience would also be needed when the three-Test rubber starts.

“The key to this series is allowing that sort of period where they do get a partnership — but not let them get more than four runs an over,” Wood said.

“We have to be patient and we have got to take the half chances. We have to try and create 20 chances during the Test match, and then we are hoping that’s all we need. In summer at home, we took those in the Ashes, and we will have to do the same here.”

Asked how much England had to adapt to the conditions, Wood said: “The style is totally different. I think the brand of cricket one wants to play back home is being aggressive, but we have got to adapt a bit here.

“We tried to be smart, had fielders around the bat and tried to do things like bump the ball at times just to be different. I think the Pakistan side never really got away from us today.”

Published in Dawn, October 7th , 2015

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