Mark Wood retires, relives four fastest spells — SkimNews
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- Mark Wood retired on Tuesday, ending one of England's most entertaining fast-bowling careers; he is recognized as the fastest England bowler on record by most metrics.
- Wood took 5-41 in the third Test against West Indies in Saint Lucia in 2019 after lengthening his run-up on advice from Michael Holding — his breakthrough after averaging 41.73 across his first 12 Tests.
- Wood's 9-100 in the fourth Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2020 (89.1mph average) sealed a 191-run England win; during the match, teammates urged him to bounce Faf du Plessis after verbals, but he instead pitched one up and had him caught at cover.
- Wood took 6-37 in the second innings of the final Ashes Test in Hobart in 2021-22 — his best innings figures — earning a quiet "respect" from Australian coach Justin Langer in a lift afterwards, despite England losing the match.
- Wood's most iconic spell came at Headingley in 2023: 5-34 in the first innings of the third Ashes Test, averaging 90.4mph on day one with Australia 2-0 up in the series, transforming the contest; his parents were present for his first five-wicket haul.
- Wood described his career as "essentially two different careers" — the first stop-start and injury-hit, the second defined by momentum and freedom once he committed to a longer run-up, with anything below 90mph leaving him "annoyed."
Why it matters: Wood retires as England's pace-bowling benchmark — his 90.4mph Headingley spell, taken with Australia 2-0 up in the series, was the single-day transformation that turned the 2023 Ashes and cemented his place in English cricket memory despite a stop-start run of ankle injuries.
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