Fast bowlers are a breed as fearsome as any.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Well, I certainly reckon so as this fearsome breed can be segmented across two distinct categories:
- Bowlers who use their run up to gather all the momentum with a rather rhythmical action, the likes of South African legends – Dale Steyn & Kagiso Rabada, Australian stalwart Glenn McGrath and the BlackCaps beauty Shane Bond to name a few.
- The other, bowlers who use their muscle to generate pace albeit from not a very long runup, the likes of the Indian great, Jasprit Bumrah, an erstwhile English tear away in Simon Jones, and the West Indian quick, Shanon Gabriel that perhaps spring to mind.
Another pace bowler who fits into this second category is one of England’s fastest in recent memory, Mark Wood.
This lad from Durham was all muscle in his bowling with a rather strong use of his shoulder to generate pace that was consistently over the 90 miles per hour mark, making batters quiver in the misery of what nightmares are made of.
Ask the cream in AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and these legends will whole heartedly agree!
Having debuted in 2015 for the Poms, one of his finest bowling performances that perhaps hasn’t been mentioned enough in conventional media, came in the English summer of 2017 against a formidable South African batting.
The Proteas were set a rather daunting target of 331 from their allotted 50 overs at Southampton and were cruising to victory with a settled David Miller and an enigmatic Chris Morris at the crease.
They needed just 6 runs of the last over when Mark Wood was given the ball and with his short of good length bowling amid pace galore, he conceded just 3 runs giving England a crucial 2-run victory to seal the series.
Despite being wicketless in the game, his impact in the last over was enough to steal the show from what looked like a cruise for the Proteas. A mighty fine performance in my book with where the game stood at that point.
Another highlight that springs to mind, was his player of the match performance against his arch nemesis, Australia in the 2023 Ashes, when at Headingly in the third test he tore through the Baggy Green’s batting order claiming seven wickets and also punching his wayto victory with the bat. This in the company of Chris Woakes as England chased down 251 in the fourth innings to claw back into the series which eventually was shared at two apiece.
This was again crucial as England were looking down the barrel in the series trailing 2-0 and had to win to keep their hopes alive in this mother of all cricketing contests. And once again, when the Three Lions needed him most, it was Mark Wood who rose above the rest.
Such fantastic outings in England’s hour of need earned him a total tally of 253 international wickets from 146 games with a 2019 World Cup hurrah also in a career that spanned a decade.
Unfortunately for him this rather pacy career was also marred by constant barrage of injuries which have now unfortunately ended his time in international sport.
His contract with England was up for renewal this month and having not played for The Three Lions since the Ashes series late last year, Wood decided this was the right time to walk into the sunset.
Mark’s domestic records are also one of note, as he has claimed 255 first class wickets, majority of which came for his country Durham amid also 126 List-A scalps and 85 T20 cherries.
Certainly, a record most bowlers would be proud of!
As Wood departs the international stage, his cricketing journey is far from over. He will continue to ply his trade in domestic T20 cricket, while commentary offers another avenue to remain closely connected to the game he has given so much to. With coaching ambitions also on the horizon, Wood has plenty to look forward to beyond his playing days.
For now, though, England bid farewell to one of their most exhilarating fast bowlers — a man whose searing pace and infectious character left an indelible ‘Mark’ on English cricket.
The wickets, the thunderbolts and the unforgettable spells may now belong to the past, but Mark Wood’s impact on the game will endure long after his final delivery.
