England pace bowler Mark Wood has expressed frustration with the media’s persistent focus on the “golf, golf, golf” narrative surrounding the England cricket team, particularly after comments from former captain Kevin Pietersen about the players’ training habits. Wood admits that while some members of the squad have made questionable remarks in the press, they do care deeply about their performance and do not take their role for granted.
In an interview on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Wood acknowledged that at times players, himself included, have said “naive” or “dumb” things that have been taken out of context. He explained that off-the-cuff remarks made in the dressing room often find their way into the press, leading to the perception that players may be overconfident or disrespectful. Wood emphasized that these comments should stay private, and the narrative in the media doesn’t always reflect the team’s true mindset.
The criticism over the team’s love for golf became more prominent during the white-ball tour of India earlier this year, where England suffered a 4-1 defeat in the T20 series and lost 3-0 in the one-day internationals. Pietersen notably suggested that the players were more focused on golf than their training. While Wood didn’t single out Pietersen, he addressed the broader issue by stating, “One thing that does bother me is this narrative of ‘golf, golf, golf’.”
Wood, who does not play golf himself, clarified that while some players enjoy the sport during their downtime, it does not distract them from their commitment to training. He emphasized that under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the team trains hard and is deeply focused on winning. He rejected the idea that the team’s off-field activities, like golf, are more important than their on-field performance, stating, “People genuinely care and work hard.”
While the media narrative around golf bothers him, what truly frustrates Wood is the suggestion that the team doesn’t care about losing. He said, “It hurts when we get beat,” and expressed a desire for the team to do a better job of communicating their true feelings, especially in interviews.
On a personal note, Wood, 35, is currently recovering from knee surgery and will miss the early part of England’s summer schedule. However, he is optimistic about his chances of returning to action for the Test series against India in July. Although the rehabilitation process is challenging, he remains hopeful of making a contribution before the end of the series.
England’s home summer begins with a one-off Test against Zimbabwe at the end of May, and the squad will be named on Friday, with Sam Cook, the uncapped Essex seamer, expected to be included.
