In the final session of Day 1 in the third Ashes Test, England found their savior in the form of Mark Wood, mounting a spirited comeback after Mitchell Marsh’s aggressive century had put them on the backfoot. Wood, the swift bowler, took three wickets in a remarkable span of seven deliveries, ultimately bowling out Australia for 263.
The dismissal of opposition captain Pat Cummins, courtesy of Wood’s bowling, will undoubtedly be featured in the match’s highlight reel at Headingley. Earlier in the day, Wood had already produced the fastest spell of the series, and it was in the 57th over that he dismissed Mitchell Starc, paving the way for Cummins to step onto the pitch.
Astonishingly, Cummins managed to block the first ball he faced, but his luck ran out on the very next delivery, which reached an impressive speed of 92 mph on the speedometer. Wood skillfully landed the ball on a good length just outside off stump, with a subtle inward movement.
To the surprise of the crowd, the ball crashed into Cummins’ pad, right in front of middle stump. Replays revealed that the Australian captain made a slight twitch, as if attempting to bring his bat down in time, but he misjudged the pace of the experienced 33-year-old fast bowler, resulting in a disappointing dismissal.
So fast, Pat Cummins didn't even play a shot 🌪️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 6, 2023
How good is Mark Wood? 🤯 #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/TSbeWSotfY
Wood concluded his first appearance in the series with remarkable figures of 5/35, earning him accolades on Twitter and solidifying his status as a key player in the match.
