England's speedster Mark Wood has garnered high praise from former New Zealand cricketer Shane Bond, who labelled him the premier fast bowler in international cricket right now. Known for his blistering speed, Wood has been a force to reckon with in recent matches, proving to be particularly impactful during the Ashes 2023. There, he partnered seamlessly with Chris Woakes, ensuring the Australian batsmen had a challenging time at the crease.
Although Wood's recent exploits have come with the red ball, his raw pace and aggressive intent indicate he could be equally lethal in white-ball cricket. Commenting on Wood's prowess, Shane Bond, in a candid conversation on Sorabh Pant's show, emphasized that the Englishman's consistently high-speed deliveries make him an exceptional talent in the bowling domain.
"Mark Wood is the standout for me right now. He is proper gas. I think to be successful, you don't just need pace you should also be able to move the ball. Outside of (Lockie) Ferguson and Wood, I don't think many bowl that fast," Bond said.
Bond didn't stop at praising just Wood. Turning his attention towards Pakistan's fast bowlers, he highlighted Shaheen Afridi's capabilities. Bond believes that Pakistan's pace battery possesses the innate ability to swing the game's momentum dramatically.
"I have always loved watching Shaheen bowl. I had taken New Zealand A side to UAE a few years ago and he was just 19 and steaming in. When Pakistan bowls, you always feel like something is going to happen," Bond said.
Another pacer making headlines in the lead-up to the premier tournament is Australia's Mitchell Starc. Starc gave a sneak peek of what fast bowlers might offer in the World Cup during a warm-up fixture against the Netherlands. His exquisite swing bowling decimated the Dutch top order, culminating in a remarkable hat-trick. Starc's masterclass began with an LBW decision against Ma O'Dowd and was followed by clean bowling Baressi and Bas de Leede consecutively.
As the cricketing world gears up for the World Cup, the prowess of pacers like Mark Wood and Mitchell Starc promises high-octane matches, ensuring fans are in for a treat.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Asian Games 2023: Indian skaters finish 4th, 5th in men's and women's roller skating 1000m sprint
Asian Games: India men's and women's shooting teams sign off with Gold, Silver in Trap event; take tally above 40 medals
