Mark Andrew Wood, born on January 11, 1990, in Ashington, Northumberland, England, is an accomplished English cricketer known for his fast bowling. He plays internationally for England across all formats and represents Durham in domestic cricket. Wood has also played for franchises like Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made a notable entry into international cricket in 2015, debuting in Test, ODI, and T20I formats the same year.
Biography
Wood grew up in Ashington and attended Ashington High School. His cricketing journey was influenced by his family, with his uncle Neil Wood also being a cricketer who represented Northumberland’s team. Wood initially dreamt of becoming a footballer at the age of 10 but eventually found his calling in cricket. Despite facing challenges such as side pain and ankle injuries throughout his career, Wood’s fast bowling, which can reach speeds around 90 mph, made him a key player for England. He married Sarah Lonsdale on December 30, 2018.
Sporting Achievements
Wood’s international career kicked off with his debut against Ireland in an ODI match on May 8, 2015. He quickly made his Test debut against New Zealand later that month and made an immediate impact with notable performances throughout the series. His T20I debut came in June 2015 against New Zealand, where he finished with impressive figures of 3–26. Wood played a pivotal role in the 2015 Ashes series, notably taking the final wicket in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, which helped England regain the Ashes. He continued to perform well against Pakistan in 2015 and made significant contributions in the ODI series against Pakistan in 2016. Wood’s fast bowling was instrumental in England’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and he was part of the historic team that won the tournament. He has been known for his ability to deliver fast spells, which was evident during the 2019–20 tour of South Africa and the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In 2023, he was recalled for the Third Test of the Ashes Series, where his performance earned him the man of the match.
Mark Wood’s journey from a young sports enthusiast to a key player for England highlights his dedication and resilience. His contributions to English cricket, especially in crucial matches and series, underscore his value as a fast bowler in modern cricket.
Player Stats
Bowling
| FORMAT | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Tests | 33 | 62 | 5996 | 3285 | 108 | 6/37 | 9/100 | 30.41 | 3.28 | 55.5 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| ODIs | 66 | 65 | 3299 | 3039 | 77 | 4/33 | 4/33 | 39.46 | 5.52 | 42.8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 28 | 27 | 597 | 831 | 45 | 3/9 | 3/9 | 18.46 | 8.35 | 13.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 74 | 129 | 12114 | 6608 | 244 | 6/37 | 9/100 | 27.08 | 3.27 | 49.6 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
| List A | 100 | 97 | 4678 | 4179 | 123 | 4/33 | 4/33 | 33.97 | 5.35 | 38.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 53 | 52 | 1113 | 1508 | 76 | 5/14 | 5/14 | 19.84 | 8.12 | 14.6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| FORMAT | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
| Tests | 33 | 56 | 10 | 772 | 52 | 16.78 | 1080 | 71.48 | 0 | 1 | 104 | 19 | 8 | 0 |
| ODIs | 66 | 26 | 15 | 157 | 43* | 14.27 | 156 | 100.64 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 0 |
| T20Is | 28 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 5* | – | 13 | 84.61 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FC | 74 | 120 | 22 | 1938 | 72* | 19.77 | 3227 | 60.05 | 0 | 5 | 265 | 25 | 17 | 0 |
| List A | 100 | 42 | 20 | 219 | 43* | 9.95 | 239 | 91.63 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 6 | 24 | 0 |
| T20s | 53 | 16 | 9 | 118 | 27* | 16.85 | 109 | 108.25 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 |