Mark Wood has admitted England’s preparations for the T20 World Cup have been “not ideal” after two of their first three warmup games against Pakistan were rained off. It leaves both sides heading into Thursday’s final encounter at the Oval – and transatlantic flights the following day – far from battle-honed.
Before the 2022 tournament, held in Australia, England played a seven-match series in Pakistan, then three games against the hosts – one in Perth, also the venue of their first World Cup fixture – and a final warmup match, against Pakistan again. Fully grooved by an 11-game buildup, and having got their international travel out of the way early, they went on to win the trophy.
