Ben Stokes Praises Mark Wood's Speed and Potential to Hit 100mph

Ben Stokes has expressed confidence that Mark Wood has the potential to surpass the 100mph mark this summer, following an impressive performance that saw him break West Indies' Kevin Sinclair's arm with a fierce delivery at Trent Bridge. 

Wood will be part of an unchanged England lineup at Edgbaston, with Dillon Pennington and Matthew Potts not making the cut. Meanwhile, Sinclair will miss out for the West Indies.

Wood's 92mph ball that injured Sinclair and ended his series was part of a spell where he reached speeds of 97.1mph, making it the fastest by an England bowler since ball-tracking data began in 2006. His fastest delivery, clocked at 97.7mph, was recorded in Melbourne in 2021. Stokes believes Wood has the capability to exceed 100mph, although he noted that Wood might not be too focused on breaking that barrier.

Stokes highlighted the importance of Wood's consistent high speeds, which regularly exceed 90mph, attributing this to Wood's exceptional fitness. He joked that he would rather have Wood on his team than face him as an opponent.

While Sinclair was one of only two wickets Wood took in the previous match, Stokes suggested a significant wicket haul for Wood could be imminent, possibly against the West Indies or Sri Lanka.

Stokes noted that Wood's presence and speed energise the crowd and the team. He acknowledged that while other bowlers like Dillon Pennington and Matthew Potts would get their chances, Wood's unique role in the team as a fast bowler justifies his selection as long as he is fit.

Stokes emphasised that despite discussions about preparing for the Ashes, the current focus is on winning every game, leading to the decision to retain Wood, Chris Woakes, and Gus Atkinson for the match at Edgbaston. He reassured Pennington and Potts that their opportunities would come and highlighted the benefits of being part of a winning team environment, even if not playing.

Stokes also addressed his future in white-ball cricket, noting the demanding schedule facing players and the need for administrators to include players in planning discussions. This follows his return to ODIs for the World Cup in India after initially retiring from the format and subsequently opting out of the T20 World Cup to concentrate on Test cricket.

The West Indies, meanwhile, will replace Sinclair with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who missed the previous match due to illness. Shamar Joseph is also doubtful, potentially opening the door for a debut by Barbadian Akeem Jordan, currently playing for West Bromwich Dartmouth CC.