- England secured a commanding 10-wicket triumph and clinched the series 3-0 against West Indies.
- Mark Wood dismantled the West Indian batting lineup on the third day at Edgbaston.
Ben Stokes commended the ‘outstanding’ displays by fast bowler Mark Wood, who propelled England to another remarkable Test victory and completed a series whitewash against the West Indies.
Wood devastated the West Indies batting lineup on the third day at Edgbaston, correcting the misfortunes he faced in Nottingham last week when he beat the edge 40 times. He claimed five wickets in a spectacular 21-ball spell that set the stage for a 10-wicket win.
‘It was outstanding. He walked away with five wickets, but I believe he hasn’t yet received the recognition he deserves for the hard work he has put in across both Test matches. He has been remarkable,’ England captain Stokes commented.
‘He’s known for his relentless energy, bowling spell after spell and giving everything for the squad, but this afternoon’s spell was simply incredible.
‘Not only was it rapid, but it was also exceptionally skilled, and it was at a moment I sensed, ‘this is the time to take them down.’
Ben Stokes (right) praised the remarkable performance of fast bowler Mark Wood (left)
Wood unleashed a ferocious spell of fast bowling on the third day at Edgbaston
Wood, at 34 years old, concluded with impressive figures of seven for 92, earning the man-of-the-match title, aided by England’s ability to turn the West Indies’ aggression against them.
A crucial moment arose when Mikyle Louis struck Shoaib Bashir for his second six: the ball hit the concrete steps at the Birmingham end, creating just the right scuff for reverse swing.
Stokes noted, ‘That’s when it started swinging a lot.’ He added with a grin that he informed Kavem Hodge on the field that it was his fellow half-centurion Louis who was responsible.
Mixing explosive late movement with speeds exceeding 90 mph, Wood thudded balls into pads, caught edges, and sent stumps flying, eliciting cheers from the notorious Hollies Stand.
Stokes then capitalized on the momentum with a record-breaking 24-ball 50 as a makeshift opener, while Zak Crawley dealt with a fractured little finger that may need surgery.
‘I was always going to go out there and be ultra-positive,’ Stokes said, after eclipsing Ian Botham’s 28-ball record against India in Delhi in 1981.
‘The new ball feels better off the bat than a slightly older, softer one, and once I hit one in the middle, I thought: I might as well go for it.’
England celebrated a 10-wicket victory and a clean sweep in the series on Sunday
As a result, for the second time during this 3-0 series triumph, England reached 50 runs in just 4.2 overs, requiring only 44 balls to achieve their target of 82 runs.
Wood’s fellow fast bowler Gus Atkinson earned the player of the series award with 22 wickets collected, with Stokes noting that both he and Surrey colleague Jamie Smith had exceeded expectations.
He remarked, ‘It’s fantastic for Gus and Jamie to know they can perform under various circumstances. That will serve them well in the future.’
