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[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Is Mark Wood consistently the fastest bowler in the world?

kron said:
What about the express pacer saqib? He was lightning quick. Atleast he thought he was. He disappeared now.

But yes wood is the quickest on average right now. There is maybe nortje apart from him.
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He had a couple of big injury setbacks unfortunately and it had been a very long / lonely rehabilitation; I think the moral was so low that he didn’t ever feel he could even return to red ball cricket but he has great support from his county/coach who have encouraged him the right way and after all the hard work he was able to play some red ball games and made his return during the Hundred; if you watch the final highlights he bowled a great reverse swing spell, the pace is not where it was, mainly between 85-88, but it’s one step at a time and he will hopefully regain his prior form. I think were it not for the hundred am not sure if England would have picked him for the Australia series, they may have forgotten him, Jofra gets the special treatment but I think there is big upside with Saqib to. Hopefully we can see more from him, lovely action to watch!
 
England bowler Mark Wood says he has been told to “stop picking his kids up” with his right arm because of his elbow injury

Wood, 34, has been ruled out of the rest of 2024 with “bone stress” in his right elbow.

He is targeting a return for England in the new year but will have further tests in the coming days to establish the extent of the injury.

“There is nothing I can really do on my right side,” Wood told BBC’s Test Match Special.

“I have been told to stop picking my kids up with my right arm. I have to do everything with my left.”

Wood’s injury was revealed last month during the Test series against Sri Lanka. He was initially sidelined by a groin issue but when scans revealed the elbow injury he was ruled out of England’s Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand this winter.

Wood, who previously had surgery on his elbow in 2022, has established himself as a key member of England’s bowling attack because of his ability to bowl with extreme pace. That is seen as crucial to England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes in Australia in 2025-26.

“It was a bizarre injury,” he said.

“I had a bit of a groin tweak and went for a scan with a stiff elbow, which is not uncommon for a fast bowler.

“I was thinking I might need an injection, which would give me a perfect time period with having the groin injury."

Wood said the doctor was concerned by the results of the scan on his elbow and said it required more checks.

“They said I have some bone stress in my elbow," added Wood. "I must have been playing with it.

“They were worried it would be a stress fracture but I have got to see a specialist in another few days to determine that.”

Source: BBC
 
That's what we call a genuine fast bowler

India v England 1st T20I

rO4jUyd.jpg
 
Wood is quick and I mean really quick but these modern-day batters like pace.
 
I know West Indies wants to show discipline. But these are alien surfaces even for Pakistan batsmen. So them struggling is no surprise.
 
Mark Wood is terrifying to watch when he's at full tilt! He consistently clocks 150-155kph and a fully fit Wood is a delight to see in action. Right now he's the only bowler in world cricket capable of maintaining that pace.
 
*For immediate release*

*MARK WOOD INJURY UPDATE*

England and Durham fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of all cricket for four months after scans and subsequent surgery this week have confirmed ligament damage to his left knee.

Wood has been managing an ongoing issue with his knee for over a year but experienced increased stiffness and discomfort during England’s ICC Champions Trophy group-stage match against Afghanistan in Lahore earlier this month, forcing him to leave the field after completing his spell.

He will now work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery.

As a result, Wood will miss the start of the English summer but is targeting a return to full fitness by the end of July 2025.

“I’m gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year,” said Wood. “But I’ve got every confidence that I’ll be back firing on all cylinders now that I’ve been able to sort my knee out.

“I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support - and, of course, our fans. I can’t wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team.”

ECB
 
Wood targets Durham return in England Ashes boost

England fast bowler Mark Wood says he hopes to play for Durham next month as he attempts to return from injury in time for this winter's Ashes series in Australia.

Wood, 35, a crucial part of England's hopes to win in Australia, has not played since February after surgery on a knee injury suffered at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

He had hoped to return for the fifth Test against India earlier this month before a setback. He was also left out of the squad for next month's white-ball matches against South Africa and Ireland as England prioritised the winter ahead.


www.bbc.com

England bowler Mark Wood targets injury comeback for Durham in Ashes boost

England fast bowler Mark Wood says he hopes to play for Durham next month as he returns from injury in time for this winter's Ashes series in Australia.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
England quick keen to prove fitness ahead of Ashes series

A return to competitive cricket next month for Durham will determine whether Mark Wood makes the trip to Australia for the Ashes series.

England fast bowler Mark Wood is hoping a county return next month will help him prove his fitness for the eagerly-awaited Ashes tour at the end of the year.

Wood hasn't played a Test match for England since August last year and is only returning to full fitness from the knee injury he picked up at the ICC Champions Trophy event in February.

The experienced quick revealed he was close to making an appearance for the final match of England's recent home Test series against India, but a setback at training pushed back his return.

"The injury is all right," Wood said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.

"It was 50-50 whether I was going to make the India Test but I was bowling at Lord's and then, the next day, my knee swelled up again so I had it drained and since then it's just been about taking things easy looking ahead to the winter."

Wood's fitness will be crucial for England as they attempt to win a first Ashes series in Australia since 2011, with the 35-year-old likely to play a pivotal role alongside fellow quicks Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and even Chris Woakes should he be able to overcome his own fitness concerns.

The right-armer collected 14 wickets from just three Tests during the most recent Ashes series in England and is aiming to play at least one county match for Durham over the next month to prove to selectors that he should make the trip to the southern hemisphere and play in the first Test that commences in Perth on November 21.

England speedster Mark Wood bowled the fastest delivery of the tournament yet, touching 155kph on the speed gun during the clash against New Zealand.

Durham have matches scheduled next month against Essex (from September 8), Worcestershire (September 15) and Yorkshire (September 24) and Wood is keen to show he is over his persistent knee problem.

"I'll try and play one or two of those matches," Wood said.

"I've been well looked after and very cautious.

"I value it as they've got this end game where they want me to get to Australia.

"But I said to (England coach Brendon McCullum) Baz McCullum I can't just bowl to a net for four months, I'll go insane.

"There's a bowling camp in Loughborough in a tent - getting acclimatised there ready for Perth - then I'll go over to Perth early with a couple of bowlers.

"We'll arrive about a week early to prepare and get acclimatised."

www.icc-cricket.com

England quick keen to prove fitness ahead of Ashes series | ICC World Test Championship | ICC

A return to competitive cricket next month for Durham will determine whether Mark Wood makes the trip to Australia for the Ashes series.
www.icc-cricket.com www.icc-cricket.com
 
England's Wood 'quietly confident' for Ashes opener

England fast bowler Mark Wood says he is "quietly confident" of being fit for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.

Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan in February and had an operation on a left knee injury in March.

The Champions Trophy and tour of India that preceded it was the 35-year-old's return from an elbow injury that had kept him out of action since August 2024.

"It was a frustrating summer," Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast., external "I didn't get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think that you're just about ready to play, it was not just quite there.

"I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent [training camp] it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there."

The first match of the Ashes starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia since 2010-2011.

"Hopefully, I'm in form, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game [Ashes opener]," added Wood, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago.

"The rehab hasn't just been a straight curve, it's been a bit up and down, but I'm in a good position now where i'm hoping to kick on for that game.

"I never want to give an answer where I say, 'Yes, I'm pumped, I'm ready'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm quietly confident."

Meanwhile, Australia's concerns over the fitness of players has resulted in all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the three-match one-day series against India, which starts on Sunday.

Australia already have doubts about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who has not played since July because of lumbar bone stress in his back.

"Cameron Green has been ruled out of the [India] series having experienced low-grade side soreness at training this week," Cricket Australia said.

"Green will complete a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return to play in round three of the Sheffield Shield to continue his preparation for the Ashes."

The third round of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition is scheduled to start on 28 October.

www.bbc.com

England paceman Mark Wood 'quietly confident' for Ashes opener against Australia

England fast bowler Mark Wood says he is "quietly confident" of being fit for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
It amazes me that England are still relying on him as one of their main seamers for the Ashes. I don't think he will be stay fit for more than 1-2 tests, he is too injury-prone.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
It amazes me that England are still relying on him as one of their main seamers for the Ashes. I don't think he will be stay fit for more than 1-2 tests, he is too injury-prone.
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I think they want him for Perth and gabba. Both him and archer should be real deal on those pitches.As Adelaide is pink ball , it doesn't suit him.mcg is real flat track .Scg can be anything as per last time depending on aus scenario.
 
Vikram1989 said:
I think they want him for Perth and gabba. Both him and archer should be real deal on those pitches.As Adelaide is pink ball , it doesn't suit him.mcg is real flat track .Scg can be anything as per last time depending on aus scenario.
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He will enjoy bowling in Perth for sure.

Pink ball test is in Brisbane, not Adelaide.
 
Australian pitches are very hard in nature and tough on a fast-bowler's body. That's one of the reasons why visiting pacers often find it difficult there.

Someone like Mark Wood who has a history of ankle injuries, who is 35 now...I don't see him playing more than a couple of tests.
 
Wood injury concern for England in tour match

England have an injury concern over fast bowler Mark Wood after he suffered tightness in his left hamstring on the first day of the Ashes warm-up match against England Lions.

Wood, playing for the first time since suffering a knee injury in February, left the field midway through the second session at Lilac Hill in Perth.

The 35-year-old will have a scan on Friday. England hope he will be able to bowl on Saturday's third and final day.

Wood bowled eight overs in two spells of four, which England said was a pre-planned workload.

He seemed in good spirits when he left the field, joking with England Lions batter Jordan Cox, whom he had just caught on the boundary.

But any injury to Wood will be a huge worry to England given his injury record.

Wood has not played a Test since August 2024, when he was ruled out of the rest of that year because of an elbow injury.

He returned in white-ball cricket at the beginning of this year but sustained a knee injury at the Champions Trophy which subsequently required surgery.

The hamstring problem is in the same leg on which Wood had the knee operation.

The tour match against the Lions was Wood's first cricket of any kind in nine months and his first in whites for 15 months.

Still, on a slow pitch he was immediately up to high pace, hitting 91mph in his first spell.

The England selection for the tour game appeared to hint at their plans for the first Test, with Wood part of a five-man pace attack and frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir playing for the Lions.

In recent years spin has played a diminished role in Tests in Australia, and Optus Stadium, the venue for the first Test against Australia starting on 21 November, is particularly suited to seam.

Another England pace bowler, Brydon Carse, missed the first day of the tour match through illness but is expected to join the game in the coming days.

England captain Ben Stokes claimed four wickets in the first two sessions in his first action since July.

The all-rounder has been out since missing the final Test of the series against India with a shoulder injury.

Australia captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins is out of the first Test with a back injury, while fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood has been cleared of a hamstring problem after an injury scare on Wednesday.

BBC
 
Forum363 said:
I will never understand why Archer was rated ahead of this guy.

Had he bowled the super over in 2019, England would have actually won properly. No way he would have let Guptil score that many runs. Archer and England got very lucky they managed to fluke it with the boundary count rule.
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That last ball archer bowled was right in the slot and a hit me ball. Guptill got two scared and tried to hit on the ground to run two, instead of depositing it in the stands.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Wood injury concern for England in tour match

England have an injury concern over fast bowler Mark Wood after he suffered tightness in his left hamstring on the first day of the Ashes warm-up match against England Lions.

Wood, playing for the first time since suffering a knee injury in February, left the field midway through the second session at Lilac Hill in Perth.

The 35-year-old will have a scan on Friday. England hope he will be able to bowl on Saturday's third and final day.

Wood bowled eight overs in two spells of four, which England said was a pre-planned workload.

He seemed in good spirits when he left the field, joking with England Lions batter Jordan Cox, whom he had just caught on the boundary.

But any injury to Wood will be a huge worry to England given his injury record.

Wood has not played a Test since August 2024, when he was ruled out of the rest of that year because of an elbow injury.

He returned in white-ball cricket at the beginning of this year but sustained a knee injury at the Champions Trophy which subsequently required surgery.

The hamstring problem is in the same leg on which Wood had the knee operation.

The tour match against the Lions was Wood's first cricket of any kind in nine months and his first in whites for 15 months.

Still, on a slow pitch he was immediately up to high pace, hitting 91mph in his first spell.

The England selection for the tour game appeared to hint at their plans for the first Test, with Wood part of a five-man pace attack and frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir playing for the Lions.

In recent years spin has played a diminished role in Tests in Australia, and Optus Stadium, the venue for the first Test against Australia starting on 21 November, is particularly suited to seam.

Another England pace bowler, Brydon Carse, missed the first day of the tour match through illness but is expected to join the game in the coming days.

England captain Ben Stokes claimed four wickets in the first two sessions in his first action since July.

The all-rounder has been out since missing the final Test of the series against India with a shoulder injury.

Australia captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins is out of the first Test with a back injury, while fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood has been cleared of a hamstring problem after an injury scare on Wednesday.

BBC
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Really like and appreciate his cricketing journey where he went from being the most non-threatening short runup fastest fast bowler to a proper scary menace with one of the smoothest runups in entire cricketing history. However, liking him is so hard as he's either injured or about to be injured. The managed workload etc. just never seem to work with him.
 
No doubt about that. I dunno if there is any other bowler anymore who can deliver as many 90mps+ in a spell.
 
England's Wood cleared of hamstring injury

England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns over his left hamstring following a scan in Perth.

Wood gave England an injury scare on the first day of their Ashes warm-up game against England Lions when he left the field suffering tightness in his hamstring.

It was the same left leg on which the 35-year-old had surgery after sustaining a knee injury in February.

In his first action since the surgery, Wood bowled two four-over spells before leaving the field on Thursday.

The Durham right-armer had a scan on Friday and has been given the go-ahead to resume preparations for the first Test against Australia at Optus Stadium on 21 November.

Wood was cleared of an injury on the same day Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Test with a hamstring problem of his own.

Wood will not take part in Saturday's final day of the tour game at Lilac Hill, but England said he will "continue to train as planned" in the build-up to the first Test.

It is a huge boost for Wood, one of the fastest bowlers to ever play for England, albeit in a 37-Test career that has been blighted by injuries.

He has not played a Test since August 2024, first because of an elbow problem, then the knee injury.

Despite the long absence, England were keen for Wood to be in their XI for the first Test, alongside Jofra Archer, to hit Australia with pace on what is expected to be a lively surface at Optus Stadium.

The tourists hinted at their plans for the Ashes opener by naming five pace bowlers, including Wood and Archer, and no front-line spinner in their XI for the tour game against the Lions.

Now England will have to weigh up including Wood in their team for the first Test, and how it would affect the balance of their attack if he is not risked. Josh Tongue could be included as a like-for-like replacement, or England could turn to a spin option in Shoaib Bashir or Will Jacks.

If Wood does not play in the first Test, there is the option to build his fitness in Lions fixtures.

The Lions meet a Cricket Australia XI at Lilac Hill at the same time as the first Test, then move on to a two-day pink-ball game against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.

Meanwhile, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lions' tour with a leg injury.

Ahmed missed out on selection for the Ashes squad when England preferred Jacks as their second spinner.

The 21-year-old will return to the UK but is expected to be fit to play for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League from next month.

BBC
 
Bowler Wood casts doubt on fitness for third Test

England bowler Mark Wood has cast doubt on his availability for the third Ashes Test because of his knee injury.

Wood, 35, returned after a nine-month absence following knee surgery for the first Test in Perth but was ruled out of the second in Brisbane over concerns over his left knee.

There is a week between the scheduled end of the second Test and the start of the third in Adelaide.

"I think there's a chance there [for Adelaide]," Wood told Channel 7.

"More realistically, it's probably more Melbourne and then [Sydney] after that.

"I need to get out of this (brace) first to get moving around."

Wood is one of the fastest bowlers to play for England but has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

Before Perth he had not played a Test for 15 months, firstly because of an elbow problem, then the surgery on his left knee.

When he made his on-field comeback prior to the first Test, against England Lions in an Ashes warm-up match, Wood managed eight overs before suffering tightness in his left hamstring.

Scans cleared him of any concern in the hamstring and he was passed fit to play in Perth, where he had match figures of 0-44.

Wood's availability helped England execute a long-standing plan to unleash high pace on Australia in this Ashes.

By fielding a five-man pace attack at Perth Stadium, England recorded their fastest collective day of bowling in Test cricket on the opening day of the series.

But England's speeds dropped on day two, as Australia raced to an eight-wicket victory in their second innings.

BBC
 
Mark Wood ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes

The England quick will return to the UK to continue his rehabilitation and recovery

England and Durham seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes tour of Australia, following a recurrence of the left-knee injury he sustained during the first Test in Perth earlier this month.

Wood will return home later this week and work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery.

Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher has been added to the senior squad and will link up with the group this week, having been in Australia with the Lions.

www.ecb.co.uk

Mark Wood ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes

The England quick will return to the UK to continue his rehabilitation and recovery
www.ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk
 
You actually have to play more than once in a blue moon to be the consistent fastest.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Mark Wood ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes

The England quick will return to the UK to continue his rehabilitation and recovery

England and Durham seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes tour of Australia, following a recurrence of the left-knee injury he sustained during the first Test in Perth earlier this month.

Wood will return home later this week and work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery.

Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher has been added to the senior squad and will link up with the group this week, having been in Australia with the Lions.

www.ecb.co.uk

Mark Wood ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes

The England quick will return to the UK to continue his rehabilitation and recovery
www.ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk
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Was never a Test bowler and his career is pretty much over, considering he will turn 36 in January.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
Was never a Test bowler and his career is pretty much over, considering he will turn 36 in January.
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For a highly rated player, Wood's record is incredibly mediocre.

I'd compare him to Tait for a player whose hype was all generated by speed but Tait actually held together long enough to have one good world cup
 
Convict said:
For a highly rated player, Wood's record is incredibly mediocre.

I'd compare him to Tait for a player whose hype was all generated by speed but Tait actually held together long enough to have one good world cup
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On top of that Tait was faster too.
 
Convict said:
For a highly rated player, Wood's record is incredibly mediocre.

I'd compare him to Tait for a player whose hype was all generated by speed but Tait actually held together long enough to have one good world cup
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I think Wood was a bit more more useful than Tait was to be fair. He was pretty useful in the 2019 World Cup and even won England a Test match or two in the Caribbean and in Pakistan etc.

Certainly very overrated because of his pace and nowhere close to Lee or Johnson or Starc
 
It’s a shame he’s out for the rest of the ashes. Very hard to come back from a knee injury - especially on the leg that has to takes the brunt of the impact. He was a very exciting bowler to watch - much better than archer. His stats will never be great because he very rarely played continuous matches.

Unfortunately all this sports science has sent express bowlers’ lifespan down the drain. Bowlers need to bowl, and bowl a lot.
 
TheSultan said:
It’s a shame he’s out for the rest of the ashes. Very hard to come back from a knee injury - especially on the leg that has to takes the brunt of the impact. He was a very exciting bowler to watch - much better than archer. His stats will never be great because he very rarely played continuous matches.

Unfortunately all this sports science has sent express bowlers’ lifespan down the drain. Bowlers need to bowl, and bowl a lot.
Click to expand...
agreed. losing Mark Wood is a massive blow, especially after everything he put into getting fit and ready for this series. He’s the kind of player whose energy lifts the entire dressing room, so you’d hope he remains with the squad just to keep spirits high.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
I think Wood was a bit more more useful than Tait was to be fair. He was pretty useful in the 2019 World Cup and even won England a Test match or two in the Caribbean and in Pakistan etc.

Certainly very overrated because of his pace and nowhere close to Lee or Johnson or Starc
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He turned the Ashes around in 2023 too - that was a breathtaking performance at Headingley. Box office
 
Fast but not intimidating and doesn’t have a period of run where he really looked threatening in red ball cricket. England just can’t produce the quality in fast bowling which Aus and SA do regularly.
 
Wood is literally made of glass atm... Injured most of the time and ashes was something he should have been careful about.
 
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