Mark Wood has revelled in the history of England’s series victory in Pakistan, stating that “nobody comes here and does this”, after Ben Stokes’ team secured back-to-back Test wins.
Wood had missed every Test of the Stokes-Brendon McCullum era due to injury, but in his first one back for almost a year, he proved the difference as his double-breakthrough yesterday ripped the game from Pakistan’s hands.
Wood returned to competitive cricket only in September and, restricted to a diet of T20, had not bowled more than four overs in a match in nine months. In Multan, he sent down more than 30.
“No, I didn’t enjoy it,” Wood half-joked on England’s nail-biting win. “I feel shattered now, wrecked. But it will sink in over the next couple of days how good that was to win here 2-0. Amazing feeling. We showed immense skill, but everyone put in an effort. It has not been one game, it has been two of maximum effort. I feel really proud.”
Wood’s role in securing the victory was crucial, England at one point staring down the barrel of defeat, with the home side 65 runs from victory with five wickets in hand.
It was at that moment that skipper Stokes turned to Wood, “an easy decision” in the words of the England captain, and he was rewarded immediately, as Wood took two wickets in two overs to swing the match, before another Wood wicket, combined with one apiece from James Anderson and Ollie Robinson sealed a 26-run win.
Victory was another tick in the box for the new-era, aggressive style of Test cricket that Stokes and head coach McCullum have instilled in the team.
“The word in the dressing room is we want to entertain and do things different,” added Wood. “So, to do it differently and write it in the history books is a fantastic feeling, especially here, because nobody comes here and does this. It has not sunk in yet, but in a few days’ time we will think what a fantastic achievement it is.”
England last won a series in Pakistan in 2000, under the captaincy of Nasser Hussain.
