Mark Wood hails 'world-class' Indian batting line-up

India has a ‘world-class’ batting line-up and the bowlers should be right on the money to keep away from being punished, feels England pacer Mark Wood ahead of the fifth and ultimate Test at Manchester. “I think it’s (India) a world class batting line up. You go throughout the whole line-up and you think, well he is a great player, he is a good player. Rohit Sharma is being brilliant, he is tough to bowl at in any conditions.” The Indian outfit is leading 2-1 in the five-match series, having won the second and fourth Tests at Lords and the Oval by 151 and 157 runs respectively. The hosts had defeated the Virat Kohli-led side at Leeds by an innings and 76 runs.

MARK WOOD: ‘KOHLI ONE OF THE HARDEST BATSMEN TO BOWL AT’

The 31-year-old speedster, who has 64 wickets from 21 Tests, stated England have plans and back-up plans for every opposition batsman. “Then you’ve got (Cheteshwar) Pujara, (Virat) Kohli, I imply Kohli is without doubt one of the hardest batsmen that I’ve bowled at in any format, so it’s world class line-up, however if you happen to don’t consider in yourself, if you happen to don’t consider you may get them out then there isn’t any level in taking part in.

“So, we believe in ourselves as a group, we have plans for each batsman, we have back-up plans, sometimes it works, sometimes they don’t. But when you have such a good sort of batting line up to come up against, you have to be right on the money, otherwise they punish you,” stated Wood.

However, he was optimistic that the hosts will bounce again.

“Although, we are losing these games, it is the fine margins when you come up against good batsmen, you are going to really make it count and that is what we are trying to do this game, bounce back, put in a really good performance and we hope we can do the same again,” he stated. The right-arm pacer additionally praised the Indian bowlers saying he has immense respect for them.

‘SHAMI HAS BEEN HUGELY IMPRESSIVE’

“I think, every-team has quality pacers, this is national cricket, this is not (some) sort of school or club cricket. Every team has fantastic bowlers and I respect this Indian pace attack immensely,” stated Wood.

“I believe it’s extremely expert, it’s got tempo, they’re all barely completely different, with completely different angles, completely different actions. It is nice to look at, I imply, it isn’t nice to face as a batsman, however as an opposition participant, you may get an enormous respect.

“And (Mohammed) Shami, I have been hugely impressed with him throughout the series. His skill level, his accuracy and it has been tough for batsmen of both sides. It is a good bowling line up but we recognise that we will have to combat as best we can.”

Wood additionally stated that 30-year-old England left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who has been recalled to the Test facet, has a “great chance” to play at Old Trafford. “It is a place that can spin, he is someone, if he turns up, I am sure, India will think hard about him, he did well in India, so he is going with confidence knowing that he can get these great players out. He is someone who gives 100 percent,” Wood signed off.