England's Mark Wood previews their must-win ICC T20 Cricket World Cup clash with Namibia
Sir Viv Richards Stadium, Antigua, West Indies
Sir Viv Richards Stadium, Antigua, West Indies
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00:00Really simply, how does it feel to get such a crushing win and affect the table as you have?
00:05It feels great. Had to put a stamp on the game and push myself back into the shape of things in the table.
00:14It didn't look great obviously before today but it looks a lot better now.
00:17Still work to do but I'm feeling a lot better about things after this game.
00:21Matthew was saying that the focus was make sure you get in a position to win the game first
00:26before you worry about margins, how big the victory is going to be.
00:30You avoided that today and you were able to make a big difference and put yourselves...
00:34Yes, I think we were ruthless as a group, as a bowling unit.
00:37I think we needed that after probably the last performance where we probably didn't adapt to the conditions as well.
00:46But I feel when we went out to bat, it wasn't just a case of winning the game.
00:51We knew we were going to try and get on with this pretty quickly.
00:55It was all set up for us in that sort of instance.
00:58I think the batters did a great job in finishing it quickly.
01:01Has that made life a little bit more straightforward against Namibia
01:05because you're not having to chase some crazy equation?
01:08You can almost focus on winning the game only?
01:10I don't know, I've not really thought about it to be honest.
01:13I think first and foremost it's just about trying to win the game and then we'll deal with whatever comes.
01:18I think that was what Joss has hammered in.
01:20I cannot look past the fact that we need to play better cricket.
01:23We trained really well this week.
01:25There was good intensity in the practice I felt.
01:28And then today we were right on it and right up for it.
01:33It's not that we weren't up for the other games, it's just that when my back's up against the wall
01:38there was obviously a few negatives flying around and questions being asked.
01:42I'm really pleased for the bowling unit that we came out and managed to put on a performance.
01:46All that being said, do you feel like the nature of this result has just offered a bit of a reminder
01:53that England are the defending champions and a team to be feared?
01:57I wouldn't say be feared, but I'd say from an English point of view it's always like
02:04you either get too high or too low.
02:06I think we've got to try and just keep that level platform.
02:11Namibia, who's to say that they didn't turn well.
02:14Now all of a sudden it's back to down in the dumps and it's doom and gloom again.
02:20We've got to perform well and I think this performance certainly says that.
02:24We can do it, but you don't want it to be a one-off.
02:26We were hoping that when we played Scotland that we could have tried and knocked them off.
02:30That wasn't a B.
02:32Now we know that the equation is in front of us and hopefully we can get the win next game.
02:39How did you feel you'd bowled in the first two games?
02:41I know the first one was kind of rain interrupted.
02:43I think I've bowled alright.
02:44I've bowled one really bad over and the other ones have been good.
02:47Out of five overs in 2020, one bad over and then four that I was pretty happy with.
02:53I know I've come in for a lot of flack and a lot of stick in the last few days,
02:58but I was determined to put on another performance.
03:02I was probably more pleased with Australia.
03:05The fact that I came back short on resilience and actually bowled some cutters,
03:08which isn't natural to me.
03:10Normally I'm just trying to bowl quick, so actually to try and use some guile and some skill,
03:15I was pleased with that.
03:18I realised that there was obviously doubts about me spotting stuff,
03:22but I think from the inside I've been quietly trying to just keep my focus on trying to perform for the team.
03:30Do you ever have any doubts yourself?
03:33Of course you have doubts.
03:34Every game you play for England you have doubts.
03:36I don't think there's a cricketer who doesn't play who doesn't have a little bit of self-doubt.
03:41The nerves before the game, for me, that's what helps you bowl fast as well
03:44because you have that nervous energy, that excitement.
03:48Of course you have a little bit of doubt.
03:50I could have gotten five wickets last game, I'd still have doubt this game.
03:52That's just the way it is.
03:54You want to perform, you're out there in front of cameras,
03:57there are millions of people watching, media, opposition.
04:01It's all judgement, so you've got to just remember your focus and what you're trying to do.
04:06In 2020 it's a bit different, isn't it?
04:08You can bowl really well and get whacked, or you can bowl rubbish and get two or three wickets.
04:12I think it's the realisation that you're doing the right things in your own mind
04:17and practising well and things like that.
04:19I think I have been.
04:21I think the thing I got wrong against Australia was probably the clarity in that over against Warner.
04:26It was a 50-yard boundary with the wind going that way,
04:29and the plants did not give him any width because he's strong square the wicket.
04:33I was in that two minds of whether I bowl it wide or whether I bowl it straight.
04:38He got me, but that happens.
04:41I was pleased that I managed to come back.
04:43To answer your question, another long answer,
04:46I've been pretty happy with how I've bowled apart from that one really stinking over.
04:51Yesterday when we came to the ground, I saw you walking around,
04:55doing a couple of laps of the outfield, having a chat.
04:57Was that a useful chat?
05:00Psychologist stuff.
05:02Was that some of the stuff you've just been talking about now?
05:05Yes, so that's self-doubt stuff.
05:07I guess that's common for players to do.
05:10I was speaking to Youngie about more the things that I'm focusing on
05:14rather than outcome all the time.
05:17Obviously, the stuff that I focus on will be different to the next player.
05:21That will obviously stay a private domain.
05:23I think that today I did that well without getting too high when I was getting the wickets.
05:28I certainly remember Jonny asking me what my figures were at one stage.
05:31I actually didn't know.
05:33I think that's good for me that I was actually focused on what I was doing.
05:41Were you guys fired up by those comments from Josh Hazlewood the other day?
05:46No, not really.
05:49I think that's part of being England and Australia, isn't it?
05:54I saw it more as a respect thing, if I'm honest.
05:58He was saying that England have done well against Australia in the recent past.
06:06He thinks we're a big threat and a big team.
06:09I had no problem with it.
06:12Are you confident the Aussies will be professional and do their job against Scotland on Sunday?
06:17You can't take a win for granted.
06:19Are you confident they'll actually set it up?
06:21I think so.
06:23I'm absolutely confident they'll play the game the hardest.
06:26That's the Australian way.
06:28They'll play hard but fair and try and get the win.