England's Stokes Confident In Wood's Ability To Surpass 100mph Speed

Ben Stokes prefers playing with Mark Wood rather than facing him. He supports his England teammate to soon break the 100mph barrier. The Durham bowler clocked 97.1mph, his fastest Test delivery, during the second match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

Wood's speed is crucial for England, especially for The Ashes in Australia next year and early 2026. Shoaib Akthar and Shaun Tait are the only bowlers to have reached 100mph in Tests. Stokes believes Wood is getting closer to that milestone.

During an electrifying spell, none of Wood's deliveries were below 90mph. He dismissed Kevin Sinclair with a fierce ball that fractured Sinclair's left forearm, ruling him out of the third Test at Edgbaston.

Stokes remarked on Wood's potential: "He's got it in the tank. He's been close a couple of times. Maybe one day." This statement underscores the captain's confidence in Wood's abilities.

Wood consistently bowls above 90mph in every Test match, showcasing his fitness and stamina. Stokes appreciates this consistency, stating it's phenomenal to maintain such speeds throughout multiple spells.

"Look at his average speeds every time he plays a Test match – it's always above 90mph," Stokes said. "That says a lot about his fitness."

Despite not yet reaching 100mph, Wood’s current performance is impressive. Stokes added, "I'm happy with what he's doing right now to be honest."

Unchanged Line-Up for Final Test

The England captain has named an unchanged XI for the final Test at Edgbaston starting Friday. Wood will be expected to deliver his high-speed bowling once again.

"Being able to sustain that pace is quite phenomenal," Stokes noted. "Every spell he bowls for England, he's clocking over 90mph."

Stokes also mentioned that Wood might not be too concerned about breaking the 100mph mark but acknowledged it could happen one day: "One day, everything might click, or the speed gun might be wrong."

The anticipation around Wood’s potential to break records adds excitement to England’s cricket scene. His consistent high speeds make him a valuable asset for upcoming matches.

The final Test at Edgbaston will see if Wood can continue his impressive form and possibly achieve new milestones in his bowling career.