Wood goals for high gear after blistering five-fer dismantles Australia
M
ark Wood believes he can nonetheless get faster after unleashing a thunderous spell of fast-bowling on Australia on the primary day of the essential Third Test at Headingley.
Wood took 5 wickets because the vacationers have been bowled out for 263 in Leeds, the seamer claiming his efficiency was “the best I’ve felt at home in an England shirt”.
The Durham fast’s figures five-for-34 are his finest in dwelling Tests whereas his four-over opening spell was despatched down at a mean pace of 92.9mph, the second-fastest ever recorded in England behind his personal effort towards India at Lord’s two years in the past.
Wood’s quickest ball of the day registered a staggering 96.5mph on the pace gun however the 33-year-old insists there’s extra to come back.
“I think the last couple of years has proved that,” Wood stated. “Maybe my average pace could be quicker. I’ve come into this game off the back of four-over spells [in T20 cricket], I haven’t actually played a lot of Test match cricket.
“To have two [fastest spells] is great but I keep wanting to get better and push, push, push, to make sure I can bowl even faster.”
Wood emerged from England’s 4-0 sequence thrashing in Australia 18 months in the past with extra credit score than some other touring participant and was excellent within the historic 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan on the finish of final yr.
However, the fast missed everything of final summer season by way of harm and feels he has unfinished enterprise in correcting a file that’s notably robust away from dwelling than in England.
“I’ve felt for a while I have a point to prove here, all my good stuff has happened away from home, so to be able to finally do it home was a massive relief,” Wood stated. “Incredible feeling, especially getting five wickets. My mum and dad were here and to be able to raise the ball to them, it was the first time they’ve seen me get five wickets, so a pretty special moment.”
England reached the shut of play on 68 for 3 in reply, needing to victory in Leeds to maintain their hopes of an historic Ashes comeback alive.
The solely frustration watching Wood’s spells got here in the truth that England haven’t managed to get him into the sequence sooner, with no different participant at Ben Stokes’s disposal – or, for that matter, Australia’s – able to matching his speeds.
“l was chomping on the bit a few video games in the past, so to lastly get in now, I’m actually, actually pleased,” stated Wood, who was not noted of the opener at Edgbaston after which not risked at Lord’s after fighting a minor elbow subject. “I had a bit of swelling around my elbow. The chat was about whether I could get through a full match and we weren’t quite sure my elbow would hold up. An extra week has certainly helped that. Leading into the game I felt like I was in really good rhythm, had a good snap.”