Mark Wood says England’s World Cup win placed put a target on their backs which every team in international cricket will now be gunning for. England kick off their pursuit of a World T20 crown to add to last summer’s 50-overs win with the first of three T20s against South Africa in East London on Wednesday afternoon.
And while the fast bowler believes they can beat anybody on their day, he admits their reputation will see opposition raising their game from now on.
“There’s plenty of good Twenty20 sides in he world and winning the 50-over one has put a target on our backs. People want to beat us,” he said.
“I think we can beat anybody, we’ve just got to bring an intensity and a level that can match the South African team who without doubt are class.
“So we’ve got to raise our game.”
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He will join a near full strength line up including Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler which looks, on paper, a touch stronger than South Africa who have given Kagiso Rabada and Faf du Plessis the series off.
England go into the series ranked third in the world two places above their hosts but a side containing Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Dale Steyn will be no pushovers particularly with the last named hoping to prove his international career can extend to one bright twilight in the World T20.
“Maybe this one would be nice to go into, finish on, and then re-assess after the end of this year,” said the 37-year-old.