'The lads wanted me to stick one up him' - Wood relives fast

Key Takeaways

• 'The lads wanted me to stick one up him' - Wood relives fastest spellsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mark Wood retired as a two-time World C
• The fastest England bowler on record by most metrics, he produced a number of thrilling spells in a career too often hit by injuries
• Here are four of those spells in his own words
• 'That was the fastest' - the Saint Lucia breakthroughImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wood averaged 27
• 11 across 26 Tests after lengthening his run-upDespite bowling quickly on occasions, Wood averaged 41

'The lads wanted me to stick one up him' - Wood relives fastest spells

Mark Wood retired as a two-time World Cup winner and an Ashes winner

ByMatthew Henry

BBC Sport Journalist

When Mark Wood retired on Tuesday, he brought to an end one of the most entertaining England careers in recent years.

The fastest England bowler on record by most metrics, he produced a number of thrilling spells in a career too often hit by injuries.

Here are four of those spells in his own words...

'That was the fastest' - the Saint Lucia breakthrough

Wood averaged 27.11 across 26 Tests after lengthening his run-up

Despite bowling quickly on occasions, Wood averaged 41.73 with the ball across his first 12 Tests. Then, on the advice of West Indies legend Michael Holding, he lengthened his run-up and using it for the first time, took 5-41 in the first innings of the third Test against West Indies in Saint Lucia in 2019.

"That was the fastest. I could be biased because I thought it was a breakthrough moment in my career but when I was watching the ball carry off the nicks, they felt a long way in the slips.

"You feel weightless, like you're never tired and are just picking up speed. It feels like you have all of this momentum and loose energy to release. You feel a surge through your body and then a whip out of your fingers.

"That day I didn't have to try. Root could have put the field anywhere and I wouldn't have cared. I was so up in my action. I can remember my feet landing and the feeling of the balls on my fingers - the seam ripping up my fingers.

"I essentially had two different careers – the first one in and out of the team with good moments but struggling with ankle injuries and form. I felt I had to constantly push myself with that stop-start run-up to get the most out of myself.

"As soon as I went off my longer run I had much more momentum, flow and freedom and the ability to bowl consistently quicker for longer.

"When I lengthened my run-up, if it was below 90mph I was annoyed."

Jubilant in Jo'burg

Wood took 5-46 in the first innings at the Wanderers and 4-54 in the second

Wood's best match figures are 9-100 from the fourth Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2020. On a quick and bouncy pitch, Wood averaged 89.1mph and helped England secure a 191-win run.

"I faced [South Africa bowler] Anrich Nortje there and when he bowled a bouncer I could hear it go past me. I was honestly so scared but something clicked in me that I would bowl fast.

"I got Rassie van der Dussen for 98 caught from round the wicket. We double-bluffed him. That was a great wicket because he was giving us a bit of verbals back.

"Faf du Plessis wasn't happy with something and Van der Dussen got involved.

"The way he commands a presence at the crease winds people up and he has a little bit of verbals here and there.

"A few of the lads were desperate for me to stick one up him.

"We set up this bouncer plan, I pitched it up and he hit it straight to cover."

Earning Langer's respect in Hobart

The six-wicket haul in Hobart was Wood's first Ashes five-for

Wood's best innings figures came at the end of the 2021-22 Ashes defeat when he took 6-37 in the second innings of the final Test in Hobart.

"It is disappointing because you are losing but you still have the pride in your own performance. You have to have pride in your performance.

"I wanted to do it for Spoons [coach Chris Silverwood]. He was under a lot of pressure but was really good for me and backed me up - Jon Lewis the bowling coach as well.

"I played four out of the five Tests and was proud of that. I was so tired at the end of that spell but came out with my best figures of the tour.

"[The Australian public] respected that I kept trying and bowling quickly. Even on the boundary line the Australia fans were saying 'Woody, we want to see you on'.

"[Afterwards] I was in the lift with Justin Langer and he put his hand up and pulled me in and said 'respect'.

"That was a really nice moment. We always want respect from our people but to have it from the Australians was nice."

The Headingley heroics

Wood's spell proved to be a turning point in the series as England fought back to draw the contest 2-2

Wood will likely be best remembered for his devastating 5-34 in the first innings of the third Ashes Test at Headingley in 2023. With Australia 2-0 up in the series, Wood averaged 90.4mph on day one and transformed the series in an electric spell of pace bowling, famously dismissing Australia opener Usman Khawaja.

"I was absolutely ready to go. The day before I was bowling to a mitt and the strength coach had to swap because it was hurting his hand so much.

"I can still hear the commentary and feel the ball.

"It was a special moment because my parents were here as well. It was the first time they saw me get five wickets.

"I spent a lot of my career in the bouncer role. I thought at times I was better than that and it hurt my stats.

"That day I got to pitch it up and it was the swing that did it.

"The BBC had [the Khawaja wicket] on socials and I watched it so many times. I just loved the noise it made. I wish I could bottle that up."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'The lads wanted me to stick one up him'?

As England bowler Mark Wood retires from international cricket, he talks through his most famous spells from his Test career.

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