On a day when England were relieved to learn that Ben Stokes had escaped a ban for his foul mouthed tirade at a supporter, Wood dismissed Pieter Malan with a delivery timed at 94.4mph, the quickest wicket-taking ball by an Englishman since Steve Harmison in Perth more than 13 years ago. … [Read more...] about Mark Wood shows his speed as he torments South Africa with both bat and ball
Cricket
Joe Root told England to let young stars Ollie Pope and Dom Bess lead team off Test field in triumph
Pope is the most complete player of the group at this stage with a technique that looks well equipped to stand up to any conditions and shares so much with the young Root. It is a question of whether he can be consistent and cope with the added burden of expectation. … [Read more...] about Joe Root told England to let young stars Ollie Pope and Dom Bess lead team off Test field in triumph
Pursuit of profit and short-term gain is leading sport towards a world of exhausted athletes and over-fed fans
Even when impresarios crop an event, it’s so they can add more. Four day-cricket Tests will free up 40 calendar days a year, into which more fixtures in other formats can be shoehorned. T20 cricket, a globally successful innovation, has been miniaturised still further to create a fourth format - The Hundred - in a sport accused of selling nothing more feverishly than its soul. … [Read more...] about Pursuit of profit and short-term gain is leading sport towards a world of exhausted athletes and over-fed fans
Mark Wood claims five before England set South Africa target of 466 to win
The return of Wood as a force in Tests is one of several boons for England on this tour. It may be that he will join a list of English pacemen, who had fleeting but significant careers. That list is obviously headed by Frank Tyson; it might include Simon Jones, Dean Headley and the more distant Nobby Clark and Ken Farnes. In the best of all possible worlds Wood might take too many wickets to qualify for this list. … [Read more...] about Mark Wood claims five before England set South Africa target of 466 to win
Paul Collingwood insists Jos Buttler will be ‘backed to the hilt’
The 30-year-old fast bowler is playing back-to-back Tests for the first time since his debut summer of 2015 and Collingwood, Wood’s former Durham teammate, said: “I’m absolutely delighted for him. I’ve played a lot of cricket with him and to play back-to-back Test matches will give him a lot of confidence. He’s got a great personality, a lot of humour, but most of all he brings 90mph-plus bowling. That is a skill you need in Test cricket. When he’s in full flow it’s amazing to watch.” … [Read more...] about Paul Collingwood insists Jos Buttler will be ‘backed to the hilt’
