Despite bowling quickly on occasions, Wood averaged 41.73 with the ball across his first 12 Tests. Then, on the advice of West Indies legend Michael Holding, he lengthened his run-up and using it for the first time, took 5-41 in the first innings of the third Test against West Indies in Saint Lucia in 2019.
“That was the fastest. I could be biased because I thought it was a breakthrough moment in my career but when I was watching the ball carry off the nicks, they felt a long way in the slips.
“You feel weightless, like you’re never tired and are just picking up speed. It feels like you have all of this momentum and loose energy to release. You feel a surge through your body and then a whip out of your fingers.
“That day I didn’t have to try. Root could have put the field anywhere and I wouldn’t have cared. I was so up in my action. I can remember my feet landing and the feeling of the balls on my fingers – the seam ripping up my fingers.
“I essentially had two different careers – the first one in and out of the team with good moments but struggling with ankle injuries and form. I felt I had to constantly push myself with that stop-start run-up to get the most out of myself.
“As soon as I went off my longer run I had much more momentum, flow and freedom and the ability to bowl consistently quicker for longer.
“When I lengthened my run-up, if it was below 90mph I was annoyed.”
