Ultimately, resistance proved to be in vain. The West Indies’ lower order had no response to Mark Wood’s incredibly dynamic reverse swing. Even after Ben Stokes effortlessly chased down a modest target to secure a 10-wicket victory for England and a clean sweep in the series at 3-0, it was Wood who remained the focal point of conversation.
Despite the sense of foregone conclusion, the atmosphere post-lunch at Edgbaston was electrifying as Wood charged in from the Pavilion End, accompanied by a deafening roar from the crowd. He executed a brilliant dismantling of the lower order, reminiscent of feats once attributed to touring teams. In just six overs, he captured five wickets for a mere nine runs, with the old ball moving in the air at speeds exceeding 90mph, sending the stumps flying and dismissing the tourists for a total of 175.
Following a morning where England methodically secured three wickets, Wood’s fifth five-wicket haul seemed almost surreal, leaving the openers needing to chase down just 82 runs to wrap up the match. However, there was a hitch: one of them, Zak Crawley, had to be taken to the hospital for scans on a hand injury incurred while dropping Jason Holder at slip off Stokes’ bowling.
Stokes rushed off the field to don his pads and returned with a ferocious intent, smashing the fastest half-century by an Englishman in Test cricket in just 24 balls, surpassing Ian Botham’s previous record against India in 1981 by four balls. He concluded the match emphatically by launching Kraigg Brathwaite’s short delivery for his second six.
Finishing his innings unbeaten on 57 off 28 deliveries, and alongside Ben Duckett, who scored a quick 25 off 16, Stokes had achieved his third 3-0 series clean sweep as captain. Notably, the emergence of two key contributors—wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who scored 95 on the second day here, and Gus Atkinson, who took 22 wickets in his debut series—was likely a significant source of satisfaction.
