India vs England 2024

Facing fortress India, England embrace “Free Hit” mentality, says Mark Wood

Excitement simmers as India and England prepare to lock horns in the first Test of the five-match series, starting in just two days at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. This showdown carries immense weight, fueled by India’s formidable home record- they haven’t surrendered a Test series on their turf in over a decade. Their dominance has been ruthless, leaving opponents trailing in their dust time and again.

But this time, the narrative around a visiting team in India is refreshingly different. England, under the electrifying duo of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, have injected a potent dose of excitement into the air. Gone are the days of conservative England. Their brand of bold, attacking cricket, devoid of a single Test series loss under this new regime, has earned them respect and a flicker of hope. Fans, media, and even pundits acknowledge that England’s audacity, their willingness to take the game by the scruff of the neck, might just be the key to unlocking the fortress that is India at home.

“It’s almost like a bit of a free hit”

However, conquering Fortress India remains a daunting Everest for any visiting team, and England are under no illusions about the challenge ahead. Despite India’s home dominance, England pace spearhead Mark Wood sees a silver lining. He views the tour as a “free hit,” an opportunity to break free from conventional strategies and potentially rewrite the script. England’s attacking brand of cricket, a stark contrast to past cautious approaches, could be the X-factor that unlocks the door to an unthinkable series victory.

“We know the challenges here. They very rarely lose at home. I think it’s almost like a bit of a free hit for us where we can come in and try something different. We created history in Pakistan recently, becoming the first team to win every match. So, this is another chance to do something historic and try and beat India in their own conditions,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

What Wood has said makes sense because even if England lose, there will not be too much scrutiny as they are not favourites in the first place. However, if they go on to do the unthinkable, the team will be lauded for generations.