West Indies’ Hodge glad to survive ‘brutal’ Wood struggle

West Indies’ Hodge glad to survive ‘brutal’ Wood struggle Kavem Hodge was happy to score his first Test hundred during a “brutal” match with Mark Wood at Trent Bridge on Friday, reminding Wood of his “wife and kids at home”. Hodge’s 120 led West Indies to 351-5 at stumps on the second day of the […] The post West Indies’ Hodge glad to survive ‘brutal’ Wood struggle appeared first on Ten Sports TV.

Jul 21, 2024 - 07:00

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West Indies’ Hodge glad to survive ‘brutal’ Wood struggle

Kavem Hodge was happy to score his first Test hundred during a “brutal” match with Mark Wood at Trent Bridge on Friday, reminding Wood of his “wife and kids at home”. Hodge’s 120 led West Indies to 351-5 at stumps on the second day of the second Test, 65 runs behind England’s first innings 416. It was far from the West Indies’ batting collapse in a Lord’s innings and 114-run loss that left them 1-0 down in a three-match series.

James Anderson retired from international cricket after taking 704 Test wickets, a record for a fast bowler. Express quick Wood replaced him in Nottingham. Fastest wood delivery Friday was 97.1 mph (156.2 kmh), and the 34-year-old paceman played mostly around 93 mph. Wood hit Alick Athanaze flush on the helmet on 48, but the left-hander went on to 82 in a great fourth-wicket partnership of 175 with Hodge. ‘Draining mentally’

“There was one point I was joking with him (Wood), I said ‘hey, I have a wife and kids at home!’,” Hodge added. I suppose his laughter made the century more satisfying. Test cricket is harsh, difficult, and mentally taxing. Fighting Mark Wood was hard but rewarding.” The 31-year-old said: “Test cricket involves hitting. Good job, Alick. He recovered and kept going. I flinched, expecting to be hit first.”

But bowling so swiftly on a decent batting field eventually took its toll on Wood, whose career has been plagued by injuries. He departed the field before Friday’s finish with suspected cramp after a wicketless 0-51 in 14.1 overs, despite a determined and skilled performance. He said he’s never cramped. “Hopefully it’s just fatigue,” said England assistant coach Paul Collingwood.

“He was stretching his hamstring, so it’s probably there. He’s worked hard on every ball on this sweltering day. A smile appeared at the conclusion.” The ex-England player said: “Everyone watching Woody throw himself 100 percent at every single spell was exceptional and getting up to speeds of 97 mph is everything you want to see in Test cricket.”