Srinagar: In the backdrop of stunning Ashes 2023 performance at Headingley by Mark Wood against Australia, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has backed J&K pace sensation Umran Malik to do the same for India in Test cricket.
Mark Wood made a stunning impact in the ongoing third Ashes 2023 Test by taking five wickets against Australia at Headingley. The right-arm pacer who hadn’t played any Test matches for England this year, bowled with express pace and accuracy, playing a key role in bowling out the Australia for 263 run total in their first innings.
Mark Wood consistently clocked speeds of over 150 kmph, troubling the Australian batters. He picked up the crucial wickets, including Usman Khawaja.
The 33-year-old proved to be the catalyst in causing a collapse in Australia’s first innings, as they went from 240-4 to 263 all out in just nine overs. The pacer dismissed the last four Australian batters to wrap up the tail, including Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Alex Carey, and Todd Murphy.
Hailing the extreme pace of Mark Wood and how India can utilise similar pace of J&K pacer Umran Malik in Test cricket, Sanjay backed Malik as inclusion in Team India Test squad.
“In Tests, extra pace ( Mark Wood) in the bowling attack has one advantage. The tail does not wag as much. India could trial some one like Umran Mallik for this reason,” Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted.
Umran Malik has represented India in both white-ball formats of international cricket. He is yet to make his debut in the longer format of the game. Malik has been selected for the Indian team for the ODI and T20I series against the West Indies.
England finished Day 1 of the ongoing Test match with a total of 68/3. Zak Crawley was the top scorer with 31 runs, while Ben Duckett and Harry Brook scored 2 and 3 runs, respectively. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow remained unbeaten at the stumps.