BIRMINGHAM: England captain Ben Stokes believes Mark Wood can become the first bowler to be clocked in excess of 100mph (161kmh) during a Test match following his Durham team-mate’s thrilling display at Trent Bridge.
Wood hit a top speed of 97.1mph as England won the second Test against the West Indies by 241 runs to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in a three-match series ahead of this week’s finale at Edgbaston.
The 34-year-old only took two wickets in the match but the effect of his sheer pace contributed to successes at the other end, notably for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who sealed England’s first series win since 2002 with a second-innings haul of 5-41.
And Wood made his presence felt more directly by forcing West Indies to change their side for a third Test starting Friday when he fractured the forearm of Kevin Sinclair with a rapid bouncer.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc holds the current record for the fastest recorded delivery in a Test, at 99.6mph against New Zealand in 2015.
Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar possesses the all-format international record after the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ sent down a 100.2mph thunderbolt against England in 2003, although many outstanding fast bowlers of earlier generations did not always have their deliveries timed accurately.
Stokes said Wood still had something left “in the tank” when it came to breaking the 100mph barrier but, speaking during a pre-match press conference at Edgbaston on Thursday. added: “I don’t know if he’s actually too bothered about it.
“He seems to be getting closer and closer to that (100mph mark), but I’m happy with what he’s doing now to be honest.
“Being able to sustain that pace is quite phenomenal.
“His average speed every time he plays a Test match is always above 90mph — 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,” added Stokes as he reflected on the sheer physical effort of his county colleague.
And Stokes was more than happy with how Wood, whose 35-match Test career has been blighted by injuries, was bowling right now.
“You have to hold your hands up and celebrate what we have there,” Stokes said. “He (Wood) has got the heart of a lion. He runs in spell after spell, ball after ball.
“When be bowls the whole game changes. When his name is read out the whole crowd is up, then when the speeds are on the big screen everyone gets going.
“Woody is always looking up at the screen as well to see what he’s clocking. He knows he’s in the team to not only bowl skilfully, but also fast.”
England captain Stokes backs Mark Wood to break 100mph barrier in Test cricket
https://arab.news/m4bba
England captain Stokes backs Mark Wood to break 100mph barrier in Test cricket
- Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar possesses the all-format international record after the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ sent down a 100.2mph thunderbolt against England in 2003
- Mark Wood hit a top speed of 97.1mph as England won the second Test against the West Indies by 241 runs to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in a three-match series
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organizers claim top F1 award
- Ethara’s delivery of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stood out on the F1 calendar with record attendance and an ambitious entertainment program
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 hosted a dramatic three-way F1 Drivers’ World Championship showdown with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title
ABU DHABI: Ethara, the promoter of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was named Promoter of the Year at the annual F1 Promoter Awards in London on Wednesday, honored for staging the best event of the 2025 season.
The Promoter of the Year award is voted for by Formula One management and is given to the promoter that produced the best all-round event in 2025 and embodied the F1’s mission to deliver the world’s greatest live entertainment spectacle.
Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said: “We are proud to be recognized as Promoter of the Year in such a competitive field of promoters. This award is a testament to the strength of the Ethara team who are delivering our vision to become a regional powerhouse in live entertainment. We will continue raising the bar and pioneering unforgettable experiences for fans from around the world.”
Recognizing Ethara’s award, Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said that 2025 “was another incredible year from start to finish for Formula 1,” adding that “our 24 promoters worked tirelessly to deliver the ultimate race weekend experience for fans.”
Domenicali said that as the sport enters its next generation in 2026, “we have a responsibility to continue breaking barriers and setting a high standard for others to follow.”
In 2025, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hosted the dramatic three-way F1 Drivers’ World Championship showdown with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title.
The event broke attendance records with 339,000 fans across four days, including 203,000 spectators at Yas Marina Circuit, alongside 136,000 attendees across Emirates NBD after-race concerts and the Yasalam after-parties featuring eight headline acts.
Expanded access brought fans closer to the action with two public pitlane walks, new FAB Track Walks, and a podium party that invited fans to celebrate on the track.
The Promoter of the Year award is the latest in a series of accolades for the event, following the 2024 Best Event Spectacle award that celebrated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for delivering outstanding off-track entertainment.
Since its debut in 2009, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has established itself as the region’s biggest entertainment weekend, combining elite sport with large-scale entertainment, drawing thousands of international visitors each year and showcasing the emirate to millions of viewers worldwide.
The 18th edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place from Dec. 3-6, 2026, bringing the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season to a close.
