BEN STOKES TIPS MARK WOOD TO BECOME THE FIRST TO BREAK THE 100MPH BARRIER IN TEST CRICKET AFTER HIS RAPID BOWLING DISPLAY IN WIN OVER WEST INDIES

Wood recorded the fastest average speed by a bowler in a Test match in Britain
The 34-year-old's career high is 97.7mph, set during an Ashes Test in 2021

Ben Stokes has tipped Mark Wood to win the Ashes pace race and become the first fast bowler to officially break the 100-mile-per-hour barrier in Test cricket.

England captain Stokes saw his Durham team-mate clock a delivery of 97.1mph last week against West Indies in Nottingham - a match in which he recorded the fastest average speed by a bowler in a Test match on British soil.

Wood, 34, hit a career-high 97.7mph during the Melbourne Ashes Test of 2021-22 while Australia's Mitchell Starc is the closest to three figures since recordings began, having achieved a mark of 99.6mph during the winter of 2015-16.

However, backing Wood's cause ahead of Friday's series finale versus the Windies at Edgbaston, Stokes said: 'Who knows? He's got it in the tank. He's been close a couple of times. Maybe one day.

'He seems to be getting closer and closer to that. But I'm happy with what he's doing right now, to be honest. Being able to sustain that pace is quite phenomenal.

'Look at his average speeds every time he plays a Test match - it's always above 90mph. That says a lot about his fitness. It's all fine and well trying to bowl one spell above 90 but every spell he bowls for England he's clocking over 90mph and that's a great thing to have as a captain.

'I'd much rather have him in my team rather than having to have my helmet and pads on facing him as an opposition.'

One casualty of Wood's ferocity is Kevin Sinclair, ruled out of the Birmingham encounter with a fractured left forearm after being struck on the wristband of his batting glove in the second innings of the 241-run defeat at Trent Bridge.

It means that while England name an unchanged XI, West Indies recall slow left-armer Gudakesh Motie. They have also placed uncapped seamer Akeem Jordan on standby with Shamar Joseph, slayer of Australia at the Gabba earlier this year, feverish.

2024-07-25T17:25:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd