Mark Wooden blew the West Indies away with a ferocious spell of quick bowling as England racked up a thumping 10-wicket victory and a 3-0 collection sweep in three days at Edgbaston.
Wooden introduced the warmth in Birmingham, terrorising the vacationers as he ended their second-innings resistance with the type of damaging efficiency as soon as related to the kings of Caribbean cricket.
Ben Stokes then confirmed the identical panache with the bat, taking a uncommon flip at opener and blazing the quickest ever half-century by an Englishman – taking simply 24 frantic deliveries.
The 35-year-old, who left Trent Bridge with simply two wickets final week regardless of clearing 97mph in one among quickest shows ever seen on English soil, lastly noticed his luck change as he picked up 5 for 40.
He took them in a ferocious spell after lunch, dismissing Josh Da Silva, Alzarri Joseph, Kavem Hodge, Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph within the area of 21 dramatic deliveries.
England racked up a thumping 10-wicket victory and a 3-0 collection sweep towards West Indies
Mark Wooden blew the West Indies away with a ferocious spell of quick bowling
Skipper Ben Stokes blazed the quickest ever half-century by an Englishman
By the point he was performed the vacationers had slumped from 156 for 5 to 175 all out, leaving England chasing simply 82 to win.
With Zak Crawley despatched for scans on a finger damage he sustained within the slips, captain Stokes took the chance to advertise himself to opener and gave the group the leisure they got here for.
Stokes blasted 10 fours and two sixes as he made 57 not out in simply 28 balls, slapping the Windies assault round prefer it was a profit match.
England’s whitewash is a welcome one as they final received a multi-match collection again in December 2022 however the truth they’ve wanted simply 10 days of lively cricket out of a scheduled 15 additionally offers trigger for concern.
This can be a West Indies aspect that has struggled to remain aggressive for prolonged intervals, lacks expertise and depth and continues to function with out the area’s finest identified gamers, a number of of whom akin to Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell are presently on this nation cashing in on contracts within the Hundred.
With a modest-looking Sri Lanka aspect arriving for 3 Checks within the second half of the summer time, extra early finishes and extra huge margins may properly be on the best way.
However that could be a concern for the directors relatively than the gamers on the park, who did their work with aptitude and authority right here.
Wooden introduced the warmth in Birmingham, terrorising the vacationers as he ended their resistance
Alick Athanaze of West Indies leaves the sector of play after being bowled out by Shoaib Bashir
They took three wickets within the morning session, successfully ending probabilities of a severe West Indian fightback, then delivered the killer one-two punch.
Wooden energised the group as he tore via what remained of the visiting line-up and Stokes put a bow on issues with a touch of showmanship, swiping, swatting and slaying allcomers.
England, 61 in entrance with eight wickets to get, grabbed an early one as Shoaib Bashir justified the choice handy him first use of the Birmingham Finish.
Alick Athanaze, contemporary from taking a 90mph bumper to the physique by the hands of Wooden, bought his timings fallacious as he aimed a sweep on the off-spinner and was lbw for 12.
Bashir was behind the West Indian demise final week however this was the tip of his contribution relatively than the beginning of one other bumper haul.
This can be a West Indies aspect that has struggled to remain aggressive for prolonged intervals
Issues might need been completely different for him had he taken out Hodge together with his very subsequent supply however his edge break up the distinction between wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and Joe Root at first slip.
Hodge had one other slice of luck when an edge off Wooden sailed previous the cordon for 4 however he and Mikyle Louis posted a breezy stand of 72 as they cleared the rest of the deficit and started constructing a lead.
England have been by no means prone to allow them to off the hook, although. Stokes, firing up for his quickest recorded spell in 4 years as he touched 87mph, had Louis caught at second slip for 57 by Crawley and Gus Atkinson pinned Jason Holder lbw earlier than lunch.
A lead of 57 at lunch gave the West Indies one thing to work with however Wooden snatched their hope away as he labored up an adrenaline rush. It was enthralling to look at.
Da Silva was bamboozled by reverse swing, the umpire’s finger going up as quickly because the ball rapped the entrance pad, and Alzarri noticed his center stump flattened by a vicious yorker.
Wooden rattled the timbers once more when Seales failed to guard his off stump and Hodge, who confirmed coronary heart to make 55, adopted with a skinny edge to 1 that zoomed into Jamie Smith’s gloves.
Josh Da Silva was bamboozled by the reverse swing from England bowler Wooden
It might have been merciless to disclaim Wooden his fifth wicket and Joseph didn’t stand in his method, threading a catch to Harry Brook, who held a pointy one.
Crawley absence gave Stokes the pretext to play entertainer and he made it a short however memorable afternoon. Beginning in fifth gear he swung from the hip and peppered the ropes with a collection of more and more dismissive blows.
Having set his nation’s new file for a half-century he completed issues with a pair of maximums, hoisting Shamar and Kraigg Brathwaite into the stands.
