The England fast bowler Mark Wood has been backed to become the first to be clocked bowling in excess of 100mph in Test cricket by captain Ben Stokes
Wood clocked 97.1mph in second Test at Trent BridgeBen Stokes has backed Mark Wood to become the first person to be clocked bowling in excess of 100mph in Test cricket, after the Durham paceman’s electrifying performance at Trent Bridge last week saw him hit a top speed of 97.1mph. Wood has also forced West Indies to change their team for the third Test that starts at Edgbaston on Friday, Kevin Sinclair having fractured a forearm in Nottingham trying to fend off a bouncer.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc currently holds the record for the fastest delivery in Test cricket, with a 99.66mph effort against New Zealand in 2015. Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar holds the all-format international record with a ball clocked at 100.2mph against England in 2003. Stokes said Wood “has got it in the tank” to hit triple figures but added that “I don’t know if he’s actually too bothered about it”.
“He seems to be getting closer and closer to that , but I’m happy with what he’s doing now to be honest,” Stokes said. “Being able to sustain that pace is quite phenomenal. His average speed every time he plays a Test match is always above 90mph – it’s all fine and well trying to bowl one spell above 90 but every spell he bowls for England he’s clocking over 90mph.
“You have to hold your hands up and celebrate what we have there,” Stokes said of Wood. “He’s got the heart of a lion. He runs in spell after spell, ball after ball. When be bowls the whole game changes. When his name is read out the whole crowd is up, then when the speeds are on the big screen everyone gets going. Woody is always looking up at the screen as well to see what he’s clocking. He knows he’s in the team to not only bowl skilfully, but also fast.
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