Mark Wood made a rapid return to international cricket in England's final T20I of their series against Pakistan, clocking 96mph in his first over into the attack.
Having been denied the chance of a return in the previous game of the series in Cardiff, which was washed out, Wood bowled the first over of the match at The Oval. With Mohammad Rizwan on strike, Wood sent down a quick full ball straight up, already at over 90mph. His second ball, however, was a rocket, pitched up to Rizwan and whistling past the bat, with the speed gun showing 95mph.
Rizwan managed to get off strike from Wood's next delivery, which struck him on the back leg and flew into the off-side. He took a single to leave Babar Azam on strike. Wood unleashed his fastest delivery of the over to the Pakistan captain with his next ball. Again pitched up, the ball flew down at 96mph, but was slightly too late, and Babar was able to flick it off his pads to the boundary.
A single came off the next ball, which was at a tame 90mph, before Rizwan worked another 90mph delivery for two off the final ball of the over.
Wood has been suffering with a left knee injury which kept him out of the first two T20Is of the series. He has not bowled in a competitive match since England's fifth Test in India in March, and has not played in a T20 since the 2023 IPL over a year ago.
Coming back on for his second over after Jofra Archer was also clocked above 90 from the other end, Wood was once again rapid. His second ball was again at 96mph with the majority of his over well above the 90 mark. He was hit for back-to-back fours off the first two balls of his over by Babar, and had figures of 0-17 after his opening burst.
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