Mark Wood relives fastest spells in England career — SkimNews
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- Mark Wood took 5-41 in the first innings against West Indies in Saint Lucia in 2019, crediting a longer run-up advised by Michael Holding for unlocking his fastest and most effective bowling
- Mark Wood recorded his best match figures of 9-100 in Johannesburg in 2020, averaging 89.1mph on a bouncy pitch and helping England secure a 191-run victory over South Africa
- Mark Wood earned respect from Australian coach Justin Langer after taking 6-37 in the second innings of the Hobart Test during the 2021-22 Ashes, despite England’s series defeat
- Mark Wood delivered a career-defining 5-34 in the first innings at Headingley in 2023, averaging 90.4mph and dismissing Usman Khawaja in a spell that shifted momentum in the Ashes series
- The lads urged Wood to target Rassie van der Dussen with a bouncer in Johannesburg, leading to a planned dismissal caught at cover after the batter had exchanged verbal barbs
Why it matters: Wood’s retirement crystallizes a shift in how England values raw pace, proving sustained speed can alter Test outcomes even amid injury setbacks—his 90+mph spells became tactical weapons, not just novelty bursts, changing perceptions of fast bowling’s role in English conditions.
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