- Wood recorded the fastest average speed by a bowler in a Test match in Britain
- The 34-year-old’s personal best is 97.7mph, set during an Ashes Test in 2021.
Ben Stokes has predicted that Mark Wood will win the Ashes pace race and become the first fast bowler to officially break the 100mph barrier in Test cricket.
England captain Stokes watched his Durham teammate record a delivery of 97.1mph last week against the West Indies in Nottingham, a match in which he recorded the fastest average speed by a bowler in a Test match on British soil.
Wood, 34, hit a career-best 97.7mph during the 2021-22 Melbourne Ashes Test, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc is the closest to three figures since records began, having hit a mark of 99.6mph during the winter of 2015-16.
However, backing Wood’s cause ahead of Friday’s series finale against the Windies at Edgbaston, Stokes said: “Who knows? He’s got it all under control. He’s come close a couple of times. Maybe one day.”
“He seems to be getting closer and closer to that. But I’m happy with what he’s doing right now, to be honest. To be able to maintain that pace is phenomenal.”
Mark Wood put in a sensational display of fast bowling in the win over West Indies.
But how does a fast bowler prepare his body to be able to play at the highest level?
Ben Stokes has backed his star fast bowler to become the first to hit 100mph in a Test.
‘Look at his average speed every time he plays a Test match – it’s always above 90mph. That says a lot about his fitness. It’s OK to try and bowl above 90mph in a spell, but in every spell he bowls for England, he clocks over 90mph and that’s an excellent thing to have as a captain.
“I’d rather have him on my team than have to wear my helmet and pads to face him as an opponent.”
One victim of Wood’s ferocity is Kevin Sinclair, ruled out of the Birmingham encounter with a fractured left forearm after being struck on the wrist by his batting glove in the second innings of the 241-run defeat at Trent Bridge.
This means that while England have not changed their starting XI, West Indies have recalled slow left-hander Gudakesh Motie. They have also brought in uncapped pace bowler Akeem Jordan and the on-again, off-again Shamar Joseph, who killed Australia at the Gabba earlier this year.
