England may have struggled in the Nottingham heat but they appear to have avoided the nightmare scenario of a serious injury to their most dangerous bowler, Mark Wood, with the problem that forced the 34-year-old off the field after one ball of his 15th over diagnosed as cramp – a condition he has never previously experienced.
“It’s surprising given some of the conditions he’s played in all the way around the world,” said Paul Collingwood, England’s assistant coach. “I’m hoping it’s just a bit of fatigue. It’s been a hot day, he’s put all his effort into every ball. I couldn’t believe it when he came off and said: ‘I’ve never had cramp so I’m not too sure what it is.’ He’s got a smile on his face – I think if he was worried it’s something serious he’d be pretty distraught, but he seems pretty chipper.”
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West Indies ended the second day on 351 for five, trailing by 65 runs, with Kavem Hodge scoring 120 and his fellow Dominican Alick Athanaze adding 82, with England’s hopes of a second straightforward victory after last week’s first Test at Lord’s left in the dust.
“We didn’t expect to blow them away again, we knew they’d fight back,” Collingwood said. “You’ve got to go through periods where you have to come up with different plans. We threw everything at them. Everyone watching Woody throw himself 100% at every single spell, it was exceptional and getting up to speeds of 97mph was everything you want to see in Test cricket. I thought they did really well to fight back.”
Wood’s first three overs were the three quickest recorded in England since records began in 2006, and he produced a display of fast bowling almost as remarkable as the fact he did not take any wickets – he repeatedly came close, most notably when Hodge was dropped at slip when on 16.
“It’s not every day you rock up and face someone that’s bowling 90mph every single ball,” Hodge said. “There was one point we had a joke, and I said: ‘Hey I’ve got a wife and kids at home!’ It was good and it made the century more satisfying, to actually experience that. Test cricket is brutal, it’s challenging, it’s mentally draining. To face guys like Mark Wood, it was tough but it was satisfying.”
This was Hodge’s first Test century in his fourth match, having made his debut in Australia earlier this year. At 31 his has been a circuitous route to the top, taking in a degree in kinesiology – “Basically a fancy word for sports science” – along the way. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “You play the game from a youngster knowing it’s something you want to do, especially in England against England. I’m really satisfied about it, especially the position the team’s in.”
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