Mark Wood made history by delivering the fastest recorded Test over by an England bowler at home during the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge on Friday.
In a remarkable display of pace, Wood, who stepped in for the retired James Anderson, clocked an astonishing 93.9 mph (151.1 km/h) on his first ball to opener Mikyle Louis. He then raised the bar with a delivery at 96.1 mph (154.65 km/h) on the second ball, leaving Louis struggling.
Wood maintained his relentless pace with deliveries at 95.2 mph (152.88 km/h) and 92.2 mph (148.06 km/h), before unleashing a blistering yorker at 96.5 mph (155.30 km/h) on his fifth ball. Louis managed to dig out the yorker for a single, while Wood ended the over with another fast ball at 95.2 mph (153.20 km/h), averaging 94.40 mph over the six deliveries.
Wood continued his fiery performance in his second over, with speeds clocked at 95 mph (152 km/h), 93 mph (149.66 km/h), 95 mph (152 km/h), 96 mph (154.49 km/h), 97.1 mph (156.26 km/h), and 94 mph (151.27 km/h).
Previously, in the third Ashes Test at Headingley last year, Wood had also showcased his speed with deliveries reaching up to 97.1 mph. In the 2022 Multan Test against Pakistan, he set a record for the fastest Test delivery speed at 156.6 km/h. Wood also delivered the fastest ball of the 2022 T20 World Cup, clocking 154.74 km/h against New Zealand.
Notably, Wood holds the record for the fastest T20 over in men’s cricket, averaging 149.02 km/h against Afghanistan during the World Cup. Additionally, he bowled the fastest delivery of the 2019 ODI World Cup, reaching 154 km/h against New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls in the final at Lord’s.
Wood’s exceptional pace continues to cement his reputation as one of the world’s fastest bowlers across all formats.
