Kavem Hodge was proud to have emerged with a maiden Test hundred following a “brutal” encounter with Mark Wood at Trent Bridge on Friday after reminding the England fast bowler he had a “wife and kids at home.”
Hodge’s 120 was the centerpiece of the West Indies’ 351-5 at stumps on the second day of the second Test.
The tourists finished day 2 65 runs behind England’s first-innings 416. They were bowled out at lunch on day 3 yesterday, having made 457, a lead of 41. Wood took the final wicket to return figures of 1-71.
Photo: Reuters
It was a far cry from a woeful batting display in an innings and 114-run defeat at Lord’s that left the Windies 1-0 down in the three-match series.
That match marked James Anderson’s farewell to international cricket, with his place in Nottingham taken by express quick Wood.
Wood’s fastest delivery on Friday was timed at 156.2kph and the 34-year-old remained around the 150kph mark for most of the day’s play. Wood also hit Alick Athanaze flush on the helmet on 48, although the left-hander went on to 82 during an impressive fourth-wicket stand of 175 with Hodge.
Photo: Reuters
“There was one point I was joking with him [Wood], I said: ‘Hey, I have a wife and kids at home,’” Hodge said after stumps. “He started to laugh and I think it made the century much more satisfying.”
“Test cricket is brutal, it is challenging, it is mentally draining,” he said. “To experience that, facing guys like Mark Wood, it was tough, but it was satisfying.”
“Some guys got hit, but it’s part of Test cricket,” the 31-year-old added. “Kudos to Alick. He bounced back and was able to stand his ground and push on even further. I flinched, I thought I was going to get hit before that.”
The grind of bowling so quickly on a good batting pitch eventually took its toll on Wood, whose career has been blighted by injuries.
He left the field before Friday’s close with suspected cramp following a wicketless return of 0-51 in 14.1 overs that was no reward for a determined and skillful display.
“Surprisingly, he said he’s never had cramp before. I’m hoping it’s just a bit of fatigue,” England assistant coach Paul Collingwood said. “He certainly was stretching his hamstring, so I presume it’s in there somewhere. It’s been a hot day, he’s put all his effort into every ball, but he had a smile on his face at the end.”
“Everyone watching Woody throw himself 100 percent at every single spell was exceptional and getting up to speeds of 97 miles per hour [156kph] is everything you want to see in Test cricket.”
Additional reporting by staff writer
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