'The lads wanted me to stick one up him' - Wood relives fastest spells

Mark Wood retired after a remarkable England career, marked by thrilling performances and overcoming injuries. Regarded as one of the fastest bowlers ever, he holds the record for the fastest England spell. Here are four standout spells:

In Saint Lucia 2019, Wood's introduction of a longer run-up transformed his bowling. He averaged just 41.73 with the ball in his first 12 Tests but produced a 5-41 in the third Test. The experience felt weightless yet powerful, with no fatigue despite the speed. "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," Wood reflected.

Wood's fastest match figures were 9-100 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2020, on a quick and bouncy pitch. He recorded an average of 89.1mph, helping England secure a 191-win run. At Johannesburg, facing South Africa's Anrich Nortje, Wood recalled the fear of hearing the bouncer pass him. He describes it as "honestly so scared but something clicked in me that I would bowl fast."

Versatile in his role, Wood took six wickets at Hobart in the 2021-22 Ashes, his first Ashes five-for. He expressed pride in his performance, noting coach Chris Silverwood's and bowling coach Jon Lewis' support. His Australian fans eagerly requested more of his fiery pace. Wood's final standout spell came at Headingley during the 2023 Ashes.

Facing Australia 2-0 down, he averaged 90.4mph and smashed Usman Khawaja for a five-wicket haul, a moment he cherished. "I spent a lot of my career in the bouncer role. I thought at times I was better than that and it hurt my stats. That day I got to pitch it up and it was the swing that did it," Wood reminisced.