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[Saba Sports News] “Phenomenal” was how England captain Ben Stokes described Mark Wood’s performance on Day 3 of the third Test at Edgbaston. Wood’s five-wicket haul led England to a quick finish, completing a 3-0 clean sweep against West Indies.
At lunch on Day 3, West Indies had turned a 61-run overnight deficit into a 57-run lead, thanks to half-centuries from Mikyle Louis and Kavem Hodge. Wood had bowled well in the morning but without success. However, in the second session, he found reverse swing and took five wickets for just nine runs in six overs, skittling West Indies out for 175 and setting up an easy chase for England.
“The rewards that he [Wood] got were later than he deserved. The effort he puts in when he wears his England shirt is phenomenal. He’s got the heart of a lion, and that 45-minute period when he had the ball is exactly what you want as a captain,” Stokes said at the post-match presentation.
“Fast, extremely skillful, and he blew the game open for us… he was just phenomenal. It felt like he was going to take a wicket every ball. He’s very, very important. The skill and X factor he possesses are vital, and he showed why today,” Stokes added.
Wood, named Player of the Match, said he wasn’t happy with his first session but a chat with James Anderson, England’s bowling mentor, helped him turn things around.
“At lunchtime, I was pretty down on myself, but Jimmy [Anderson] told me to focus on skill and moving the ball rather than the outcome. That first wicket gave me confidence, and from there, it just started to fly,” Wood said.
“My role is to bowl fast, and that’s what Stokesy wants. Over the years, my speed has varied with injury, but I’ve maintained it in these games and hope to continue that into the summer,” Wood added.
Stokes also praised debutants Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith, who impressed in the series. Atkinson, the Player of the Series, took 22 wickets, while Smith scored 207 runs in three innings, including a crucial 95 in the third Test’s first innings.
“Gus and Jamie had fantastic debuts. Gus’s debut couldn’t have been better. He’s improved every spell. Jamie Smith has been exceptional with the bat and as a ‘keeper. He’s grown into that No.7 role nicely,” Stokes said.
Stokes also highlighted how England’s refined batting approach allowed them to recover in the first innings.
“18 months or two years ago, at 54/5, we might have responded differently. Now, everyone knows what’s expected: to assess the situation and play what best suits them, always looking to put pressure on the opposition,” Stokes said.
In the second innings, Stokes came out to open and blasted a 24-ball fifty, the fastest for England in Test cricket, surpassing Ian Botham and securing victory in just 7.2 overs. “A bottle of champagne would probably be more appreciated. Pretty cool to go past Beefy [Botham] with that one,” Stokes quipped.