Mark Wood believes he can still get quicker after unleashing a thunderous spell of fast-bowling on Australia on the first day of the crucial Third Test at Headingley.
Wood took five wickets as the tourists were bowled out for 263 in Leeds, the seamer claiming his performance was “the best I’ve felt at home in an England shirt”.
The Durham quick’s figures five-for-34 are his best in home Tests while his four-over opening spell was sent down at an average speed of 92.9mph, the second-fastest ever recorded in England behind his own effort against India at Lord’s two years ago.
Wood’s fastest ball of the day registered a staggering 96.5mph on the speed gun but the 33-year-old insists there is more to come.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 in the side.
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𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 with FIVE wickets!
Take a bow, Mark Wood 👏
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“I think the last couple of years has proved that,” Wood said. “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 series thrashing in Australia 18 months ago with more credit than any other touring player and was outstanding in the historic 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan at the end of last year.
However, the quick missed the entirety of last summer through injury and feels he has unfinished business in correcting a record that is notably strong away from home 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 said. “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 close of play on 68 for three in reply, needing to victory in Leeds to keep their hopes of an historic Ashes comeback alive.
The only frustration watching Wood’s spells came in the fact that England have not managed to get him into the series sooner, with no other player at Ben Stokes’s disposal - or, for that matter, Australia’s - capable of matching his speeds.
"l was chomping at the bit a couple of games ago, so to finally get in now, I’m really, really happy,” said Wood, who was left out of the opener at Edgbaston and then not risked at Lord’s after struggling with a minor elbow issue. “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.”
