Latest news with #LukeWood
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Luke Wood takes England return in his stride after ‘weird' PSL experience
Nerves were never likely to be an issue on Luke Wood's England comeback, with the left-armer returning to the fold just a month after he was caught up in the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan. Wood was playing for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League when political tensions between the two nations developed into military clashes over the disputed Kasmir region, forcing both the PSL and Indian Premier League to be suspended. Overseas players left the country as concerns grew, but the Lancashire seamer was among those who returned to finish the tournament after a short hiatus, playing two more games in Rawalpindi. With that experience in his recent past, the 29-year-old was unlikely to be fazed by his return to the international stage after 21 months. He made the perfect start in Sunday's series-clinching T20 win over the West Indies, pinning Evin Lewis lbw with his very first ball, and was later named player of the match after taking two for 25 in a contest dominated by the bat. 'It was a weird dynamic to be in. You don't know what to believe and we get told to wait for the facts from certain people,' he said of his interrupted stay at the PSL. 'When we left it was the right time to go, but credit to them for making it a safe place for people to come back to. 'I understand the lads with young families might not have wanted to go back for certain reasons, but, for me personally, once I was told it was fine I was happy to go back and credit to them for getting it on. 'As players we're there to play cricket. If it's not safe we go, if it is safe we play. It hasn't put me off at all, it's part and parcel of the world. Pakistan and India have disagreements over that piece of land. 'This time it extended a bit too far for what we would like, but it's nothing you can control. The security they have in Pakistan is amazing and they looked after us really well. That's all you can ask for.' Wood was described as a 'point of difference' by captain Harry Brook, with his left-arm angle and ability to bowl fast, swinging yorkers making him a potent threat with the new ball. He has a happy knack of striking with the opening delivery of the innings too, Lewis' dismissal following in the footsteps of Tim Seifert and Ben McDermott at the PSL. 'It's a method I've got, I pride myself on starting well,' he said. 'That is a big thing for me and it's big for the team, to set the tone well. That's what my main role is. Warm-up wise, before a game, I do everything I can to be really ready for that first ball. it's not a loosener, it's full on. 'A lot of my strength is up front, a lot of the stuff I bowl in my warm-up is focused around that first ball. 'But I don't want to be pigeon-holed as someone who just bowls at the start, I've always said that, and I'll work on what I need to work on to become just as well renowned at the death too.' The West Indies tour concludes with Tuesday's third T20 in Southampton, when England will be hoping to wrap up a second series sweep in a row under Brook's captaincy.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
England chase 197 to seal T20 series win against West Indies
Agencies England sealed a series win over West Indies with a game to spare after a superb chase of 197 in the second T20 at Bristol on Sunday, reports Former captain Jos Buttler struck 47 and his successor Harry Brook made 34 as England reached 112-2 in 12.2 overs, before they fell in consecutive overs with 85 still required to swing the game back in the tourists' favour. But Jacob Bethell's stunning cameo of 26 from 10 balls, including three huge sixes, and Tom Banton's unbeaten 30 off 11 set up a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining. England had earlier been eyeing a much smaller target as they had restricted West Indies to 121-4 at the start of the 17th over, only for an onslaught of 75 runs from the final four overs to follow. Luke Wood had given England the perfect start by pinning Evin Lewis lbw with a swinging yorker from the first ball of the match, before captain Shai Hope's elegant 49 led the recovery in a stand of 90 with Johnson Charles, who made 47. Their innings had been in danger of floundering with just 32 runs scored in 5.1 overs after Hope's dismissal in the 11th, but Rovman Powell clubbed 34 from 15 balls and former skipper Jason Holder whacked an unbeaten 29 off nine. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled the penultimate over as England again only selected two seamers, and conceded 31 runs to finish with 1-59 - the most expensive figures of his T20 career. Player of the match, England bowler Luke Wood, speaking to Test Match Special said: 'It's my first game in an England shirt for a year and half. I'm just trying to make my mark when I get a chance to do so, it was nice to get a run out and nice to win a game.' 'First game back, a wicket always settles you down a bit. A bit of nerves, but I enjoyed it.' West Indies captain Shai Hope said: 'We were a few runs short, with the dimensions and the pitch being a decent one. 'We have to try and bounce back, win the game and finish the tour strong, setting the tone as a team.' England captain Harry Brook speaking to Sky Sports said: 'We had a lot of fun out there. We chased the score beautifully. It was a very good performance. We have a lot of depth. Small boundaries here, we always felt they were under par by 30 runs.' Scores: West Indies 196-6 (20 overs)cTypeface:> Hope 49 (38); Wood 2-25 England 199-6 (18.3 overs): Buttler 47 (36); Joseph 2-45. England won by four wickets; lead series 2-0.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Wood makes mark on England comeback
BRISTOL, England - England bowler Luke Wood said he was just trying to make his mark after being named player of the match in a T20 victory over West Indies in Bristol on Sunday, nearly two years after his last international appearance. In a match dominated by some formidable hitting, Wood was England's stand-out bowler, with two wickets, including one with the very first ball of the contest. Wood, who finished with figures of 2-25, struck Evin Lewis on the pads to get England off to a perfect start in his first appearance since September 2023. "It's my first game in an England shirt for a year and half. I'm just trying to make my mark when you get a chance to do so, it was nice to get a run out and nice to win a game," he said after England clinched a four-wicket victory to seal the three-match series. "First game back, a wicket always settles you down a bit. A bit of nerves, but I enjoyed it. They didn't announce the team until we got here today, anticipation is more nerve-wracking, when you get on the field it's OK." Wood was the latest England bowler to shine on their return to the team after Liam Dawson took four wickets on his international comeback after nearly three years out in the first T20. Dawson had a less profitable outing in Bristol, taking 0-43 in a match dominated by both sides' big hitters. The tourists hit 15 sixes on their way to an imposing total of 196-6 and England followed that 10 of their own as they claimed victory with nine balls to spare. "We had a lot of fun out there," said England captain Harry Brook, who continued his excellent start in the role with a second straight series win over the West Indies after a 3-0 whitewash in the one-dayers. "We chased the score beautifully. It was a very good performance. "We have a lot of depth. Small boundaries here, we always felt they were under par by 30 runs." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cricket-Wood makes mark on England comeback
Cricket - Second Twenty20 International - England v West Indies - Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol, Britain - June 8, 2025 England's Luke Wood in action Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs BRISTOL, England (Reuters) -England bowler Luke Wood said he was just trying to make his mark after being named player of the match in a T20 victory over West Indies in Bristol on Sunday, nearly two years after his last international appearance. In a match dominated by some formidable hitting, Wood was England's stand-out bowler, with two wickets, including one with the very first ball of the contest. Wood, who finished with figures of 2-25, struck Evin Lewis on the pads to get England off to a perfect start in his first appearance since September 2023. "It's my first game in an England shirt for a year and half. I'm just trying to make my mark when you get a chance to do so, it was nice to get a run out and nice to win a game," he said after England clinched a four-wicket victory to seal the three-match series. "First game back, a wicket always settles you down a bit. A bit of nerves, but I enjoyed it. They didn't announce the team until we got here today, anticipation is more nerve-wracking, when you get on the field it's OK." Wood was the latest England bowler to shine on their return to the team after Liam Dawson took four wickets on his international comeback after nearly three years out in the first T20. Dawson had a less profitable outing in Bristol, taking 0-43 in a match dominated by both sides' big hitters. The tourists hit 15 sixes on their way to an imposing total of 196-6 and England followed that 10 of their own as they claimed victory with nine balls to spare. "We had a lot of fun out there," said England captain Harry Brook, who continued his excellent start in the role with a second straight series win over the West Indies after a 3-0 whitewash in the one-dayers. "We chased the score beautifully. It was a very good performance. "We have a lot of depth. Small boundaries here, we always felt they were under par by 30 runs." (Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Wood makes mark on England comeback
BRISTOL, England :England bowler Luke Wood said he was just trying to make his mark after being named player of the match in a T20 victory over West Indies in Bristol on Sunday, nearly two years after his last international appearance. In a match dominated by some formidable hitting, Wood was England's stand-out bowler, with two wickets, including one with the very first ball of the contest. Wood, who finished with figures of 2-25, struck Evin Lewis on the pads to get England off to a perfect start in his first appearance since September 2023. "It's my first game in an England shirt for a year and half. I'm just trying to make my mark when you get a chance to do so, it was nice to get a run out and nice to win a game," he said after England clinched a four-wicket victory to seal the three-match series. "First game back, a wicket always settles you down a bit. A bit of nerves, but I enjoyed it. They didn't announce the team until we got here today, anticipation is more nerve-wracking, when you get on the field it's OK." Wood was the latest England bowler to shine on their return to the team after Liam Dawson took four wickets on his international comeback after nearly three years out in the first T20. Dawson had a less profitable outing in Bristol, taking 0-43 in a match dominated by both sides' big hitters. The tourists hit 15 sixes on their way to an imposing total of 196-6 and England followed that 10 of their own as they claimed victory with nine balls to spare. "We had a lot of fun out there," said England captain Harry Brook, who continued his excellent start in the role with a second straight series win over the West Indies after a 3-0 whitewash in the one-dayers. "We chased the score beautifully. It was a very good performance.
