Wood 'closer and closer' to 100mph, says Stokes

 

England captain Ben Stokes has praised fast bowler Mark Wood, noting that he is inching closer to breaking the 100mph barrier.

Wood, 34, reached speeds of 97.1mph during an exhilarating spell on the second morning of the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge last week. His fastest recorded speed stands at 97.73mph, with only three bowlers in history confirmed to have exceeded 100mph in an international match.

“He’s got it in him,” said Stokes. “He’s been close a few times. Maybe one day he’ll get there.”

Wood has been named in an unchanged England squad for the upcoming third Test against the West Indies, starting on Friday. Stokes expressed his admiration for Wood’s speed, saying, “It’s not surprising. It’s great to watch. I’d much rather have him on my team than face him as an opponent with my helmet and pads on.”

In the second over of his first spell last Friday at Trent Bridge, Wood averaged 94.47mph, marking the fastest recorded over by an England bowler in a home Test. His quickest delivery of 97.73mph was against David Warner during the Boxing Day Ashes Test in 2021.

Although measuring precise bowling speeds is challenging, the only bowlers confirmed to have exceeded 100mph are Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar and Australians Brett Lee and Shaun Tait, though some data analysts question these records.

The fastest recorded delivery in Test cricket was 99.3mph, delivered by Australia’s Mitchell Johnson to dismiss New Zealand’s Jeetan Patel in 2010.

Stokes mentioned that Wood is always checking his speeds on the big screen, adding that he would “hear about it non-stop” if he does break the 100mph mark. “He seems to be getting closer and closer,” Stokes said. “Maybe one day everything will click or the speed gun might be off. Who knows?

“But I’m impressed with what he’s doing right now. Sustaining that pace is remarkable. His average speed in every Test match is consistently above 90mph, which is a testament to his fitness. It’s not just about one spell; he consistently bowls at high speeds, and that’s invaluable for us as a team.”