Test Match Special - Fast, furious, and finished - Mark Wood retires

Episode Date: September 22, 2026

Mark Wood tells Henry Moeran why now is the right time to make the decision, and talks about his memories in an England shirt. Plus, Simon Mann is alongside former England opener, and teammate of Mark Wood, Dawid Malan, as well as BBC Sport journalist Matt Henry to discuss Wood’s career after the bowler announced his retirement from international cricket.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Welcome to the Haunted Library. Have you come in search of a tale? This podcast invites you to browse the shelves and find stories that will linger long after you've left this place. From Gothic masterpieces to Pulpy Penny Dreadfuls, join me, Colin Morgan, with new episodes twice a week. Find The Haunted Library wherever you get your podcast.

You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. A explosion out there and a big explosion in the West Stand as well. Wood has done it for England. Here is Wood rushing into ball. He strikes him on the pad and show for LBW. They've run for a leg by. He's giving him out. Umpire Rasmus took a long time to think about that.

And Wood has come back and he's got a wicket straight away. New Zealand have no. No reviews left. Taylor's already on his way. He's halfway back to the pavilion. He's not a disease. Wood waits, bat raised. Stark's on his way. Left arm over the wicket he bowleds to him. That's guided away just for one. England need one to win. Stark comes in, bowls to oaks, he steps away. Last ball of the innings, 141 for seven. Woods on his way. He also crewed a ratney who sides that into the offside. Down the third man caught. Hales takes the catch. He'll run off and get his pads on. And England

know what they have to do to get through. To the semi-final in Adelaide, they've got to score 142. Pass the arm part, Stokes-waites, bat-raise and heaves into the next side. That's it. England win the T-20 World Cup. As Wood springs into action, goes wide to the crease. Boldie, ball in! Well, some of the highlights of Mark Wood's international career,

he took 119 wickets and 38 tests after making his debut in 2015. And that summer, as you heard, he helped win back the ashes on home soil. white ball cricket. Wood retires as England, the sixth highest wicket taker in men's T-20s with 54 from 38 matches, and he took 80 wickets in 71-day internationals as well. And he's been speaking to Henry Moran. Mark, why now? I just think it's the right time.

Obviously, my contract's finished at the end of this month, and I didn't want that to be a distraction for the rest of the guys that's going to get their new contracts. It shouldn't be about my finishing, it should be about them. So I just think it's the right time now. my home ground and it takes the pressure off me a little bit whereas I'm not always chasing right can I get back for T20 when's the next tour? I just think it's just a nice end enemy contractor

just take the pressure off and whatever's next I can roll into without that desperation to get back which I've done a lot of times with injury where I always want to get back but this time I can take my time and hopefully get to some cricket elsewhere how hard has the mental toil been not just coming to this decision but over the years fighting that fight to get back? Yeah, I mean, it's ground me down in the end. I've never felt that I couldn't get back and be better or both quickly.

But this time, 18 months really and playing one game, it's just ground us to a halt really where it's like I don't have that same sort of push or desire to keep up my body through it. I knew that from a medical point of view. They told me I couldn't play test cricket anymore and I couldn't play 50 over anymore because my knee couldn't cope with that workload so I was left for T20

and I think again like I say just to go down a different avenue it just seems like an easier route mentally because of the toll over the years of keep trying to come back keep trying to push myself keep trying to bowl fast and ultimately if I do get to come back

it'll be because I can still bull fast if I come back and I can't and I'm going to do it I've got to be all in if I'm going to do it and bowling fast as what I've tried to do, so I can't do anything else. Was there any temptation to stay as the T20 international cricket? That was, but again, it's just with the contract situation ending now,

I just feel it's the perfect time now to just say, look, it's a clear ending. I can move on from this little bit and not chase that right. When's the England tour? When's T20? When do I need to try and get, because ultimately I'd have to prove my fitness for time, whereas if I play here at Durham, I know that I've got until next year,

if I try and get somewhere of the franchise, if I can't do it, I can take my time in getting ready, but with England, you're always pursuing the next thing. So it just gives us a chance. Any regrets in any sense? Yeah, loads. I wish I'd change my run-up sooner. I wish that that game at Perth had gone differently

because in hindsight I probably wasn't as ready as I should have been. and yeah other things with injury I don't it's part of who I am but I don't want to be recognised as someone that stigma with injuries all the time I you know I'd hopefully be remembered for cricket as well I regret some of my performances and wish I could have performed by other times when I've played when I was injured and I shouldn't have played that's cost me in the team cost my role in the team or cost my stats or whatever you want to be but I don't give it as good as I got. I couldn't have given any more. I tried my best. I tried to bowl fast every time and I can have that inner piece within us that I'd give it everything

I had. Talk to us about the thrill of fast bowling and bowling fast for England. I'm thinking the Usman-Kawarge dismissed on that spell at Headingley in the last ashes at home. Yeah, I mean bowling fast is something that you just feel throughout your body. Some people look at it technically and say oh this is but for me when I think about bowling fast I see the line in which I'm trying to bowl. I feel it go up through my body and that's that sort of whip and sink shot and all that energy that comes through you and it's almost like the perfect time and I've mentioned before chinks of a chain when all them chinks are aligned you have this big whoosh and it feels it feels pretty good. What's next? Away from the field? I don't know. I think I've enjoyed doing

some media this summer. I've done my coaching badges as well. I think probably the media say of things is something I've enjoyed more. Coaching it is. It is is the side that I would maybe like to pursue, but I don't know what that looks like at the minute. And then, of course, I'd love to maybe a year or two still trying to play cricket, still trying to play here for Durham in the blast, or trying to play in the 100, or try and play some franchise stuff, or even play for Ashen. I would take any of them. So that would be something that in an ideal world, a mixture of all three may be brilliant.

I think there's club cricketers in the north-east area, rather hoping you don't fulfill that particular side of things for Ashington. What's playing for England meant to you? everything. It was a dream come true. I used to practice in the back garden all the time. I go at the local critic club my friends playing for England was literally the dream. I kind of believe that I've managed to play so much and experience all the amazing places, meet amazing people, play with the best players, Roots, Stokes, Anderson Broad, Butler, I could go on and on and on about these great names who I've managed to play with. Some of the best ever. I've won things like the T20 World Cup,

the I woke up and incredible teams. I feel so lucky to have done what I've loved and be a part of that and be paid for it and travelled the world and seeing all these places. It's unbelievable. So very, very lucky and very proud. Do you recognise that you're unusual in the sense of seeing it with that wide-eyed wonder? And that's part of the personality that I think people have loved as well, is that they can see how much you're loving every moment.

Yeah, but you have to play for fun. That's why we play it, right? We play the game to enjoy. and bowling fast was something that I enjoyed and wanted everybody to do well. I wanted my country to do well ultimately now. I'm not playing but I still want England to win and that is the way I grew up and wanted to be.

So I hope England win today. I hope that they continue to win and then I can maybe commentate on how well they're doing. I'll miss being out there. You miss being in the dressing room but I've got loads of great memories. Just a shame I'm not going to have that one more spell. One more spell.

I mean I was hoping the day that I might get to open the batting because that's what usually happens on retirements, but that's not to be the case. And just finally, if there's one moment in years to come, when you're in your armchair, in decades from now, and you think that was my moment for England, what will it be? Well, I've achieved something, like I mentioned, the two World Cups, taking a winning wicket in the ashes,

but I think my personal thing would probably be St. Lucia or maybe Hedney, ball in there. You know, to come 2-0 down in Asher series, drag it back to 2-2, be so close to making a 3-2, that would have been a real iconic moment. But to win away from home, win in Pakistan, winning South Africa, winning Sri Lanka, these aren't easy places.

So to have that all on one CV, I'm very proud to have done that for my country. I think we've loved it as much as you have. Thank you, Woody. Thank you, man. That's Mark Wood. Speaking to Henry Moran, I'm joined by BBC Sports Matt Henry

and also Wood's former England teammate, David Milan fast bowlers batsmen I don't know whether they hate them or not or whether they fear them a lot of cricketers you talk to I know I never feared facing a fast bowl it was part of my job

but on his day he was rapid he was I think any batter that says they didn't fear someone bowling 155 is lying let's be honest it's never a nice feeling it's never comfortable and Mark Wood did that probably more consistently than most.

He was a whole-hearted cricketer, someone he ran in all day, able to bowl, as we said, 95 miles per hour consistently. And, yeah, it's been a brilliant career for him. And I'm so pleased that he's managed to get through it. But, you know, it's not been without its challenges with his injuries, long periods in the gym doing rehab. It's been, yeah, it's been a tough time for him. And as someone who's been part of the change room to see how he handled all those failures

and setbacks and how he, how he, he handled all those failures and setbacks. and how we always had a smile on his face was brilliant to see as well. It's interesting actually you speak to some people. You say, you know, I mean regrets. No, no, I didn't regret anything. But actually, you've got quite a long list of regrets there. It's kind of like a slight feeling of being unfulfilled. Yeah, definitely.

And I think if you look back at his career, you look at the man of games he played, 38 test matches. I mean, for the player that we've seen over the last three or four years when he has played, you'd think 38 test matches is definitely not enough for the skill and the speed and the talent that he had. and that's all down to injuries, not necessarily selection. So you probably look back at that, and he'd probably say he'd probably want to play more test cricket.

If I were him, I'd have probably said run quicker in that World Cup finals. He wouldn't have to go to the Superover. But, I mean, he was quick, but he didn't run that quick as quick as he bowled. But, no, look, he can be proud of what he's achieved. And as you say, most players will look back and say, no, I have no regrets. And he probably will because he hasn't played as much cricket as he probably should due to all the injuries. Matt, what about the North East aspect?

I mean, talking there about, if I guess, I can play for Ashington. He kind of wants to play. I mean, it's amazing what Durham have done here, actually, isn't it, and the number of England cricketers that they produced? Yeah, definitely. And Mark Wood follows on from Stephen Harmison, who he's mentioned was his hero growing up.

They both came from Ashington Cricket Club. Wood is interesting, actually, because he wasn't one who came through the under 19 programs, was he, David? I'd probably similar sort of age. I'm thinking off the top of my head now, but he wasn't slightly older. But he wasn't someone who came through the under 19 program.

with England. He played club cricket for Ashington. He idolized Stephen Harmeson growing up. He used to run on the beaches up there in Northumberland, and he used to play club cricket. And then he gets into it that way, he gets in here. John Windows at Durham is someone that everyone here talks about, that talent pathway that they've had. You go through from Harmeson onto Stokes, Collingwood, pots, cars, that line of fastballers and Wood as well. I've got the order on there, obviously. But you know what I mean? That line of fastballers, they've might. managed to produce here and they say there are more coming through as well.

That's, he's just the latest of them and it's quite inspirational I feel around this area. People do, everyone loves, well, I don't want to speak for everyone, but you imagine everyone loves watching Mark Woodball, but I think that is especially relevant up here because I think people are very proud of it. How have they done it? That's a very good question. I mean, the cliche goes, doesn't it, that it's because of working class backgrounds and things like that, the people who used to play club cricket.

And I think people do push against that a little bit up here, that there's more to, you it than simply are you teams who are playing in pit villages and things up here in the northeast I think you probably are right to push against that a little bit because it's a good system that they've got that here it isn't just all about raw talent of people who like to work hard and then ball quickly

there is a lot more to it than that and I think Durham have a good set up for developing fast bowlers one of the regrets David that he talked about there was not changing his run up earlier so remember he used to bowl off quite a short run and basically used to put everything into a short run didn't he and then he lengthened there and he had that sort of long smooth sprint to the crease and it seemed to come out

even quicker. What about that? And how much did you face him and how difficult was it for you when you came up against me? Yeah, well he felt initially that that short run-up was what created a lot of his injury issues. It felt like he didn't have the momentum getting to the crease and it felt like it put a lot of strain on his body when he got to the crease and the lengthening the run-up made it smoother, a bigger transition. He was actually quite scared. He was actually quite scared. He, towards the end when he used to run in, because he ran in from a long way, and it was quick, and he was looking at you, and you were a bit like, oh, this looks quick, and it's going to be quick. But I actually faced him for the first time here at this ground, at the Durham ground,

and he was off his short run-up. It was in a four-day game against Durham, and he bowled as quick as I'd face off that short run-up. I mean, people always said, oh, you know, he's skiddy and what have you. But when you face him, he had, when he was younger, he swung the ball big into the left-hander, and it really took him by surprise at how quick he out. actually was of that run-up. And then he played for England and he did exceptionally well. Then the injury started. And then I remember facing him towards the end of his career. We played a couple of warm-up games, one in a whiteball game at Newlands, and then one just pre that 2021 Ashes series. We played

a warm-up game at some club ground and he bowled the speed of light of that run-up. And that was probably the first time I've seen him. And I've always felt like I had a good record in actual games against him. And that was of his short run-up and I played a lot of whiteball cricket. But I've I remember facing him there thinking, my word, this is rapid. And not very often did you walk off from winnings going, cool. That wasn't comfortable. And then he sort of went from strength to strength after that, didn't he? He bowled really well in that ashes, and then every opportunity he got from there,

he absolutely cleaned up for England. And as you said, he was talking about that run-up, and he probably wished he'd done that early, and he might have had less injuries as he went on. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Welcome to the Haunted Library Have you come in search of a tale? This podcast invites you to browse the shelves

and find stories that will linger long after you've left this place From Gothic masterpieces to Pulpy Penny Dreadfuls Join me, Colin Morgan with new episodes twice a week. Find the Haunted Library wherever you get your podcasts. Where is he, Matt, in terms of England's fastest. bowlers. Have you had a chance to have a look at that and think about that? Yes. It depends actually how you judge these things.

I think Wood's top speed was 97 mile an hour and obviously you can tell me, Simon, about the ballers that balled in the 70s and the 80s were quicker than they are now. You can try and win that argument, if you like, but I'll dispute it. Agers would argue it, wouldn't he? But I think consistency... I can't think of a bowler in the 70s and 80s

that was as quick as I mean. Bob Willis, you know, on his day could run in, but I would say Mark Wood was probably quicker than Bob. Yeah, I think so he's statistically on record of when the ball tracking era we talk about from these people who keep these stats the quickest. I think what Wood is proud of actually, I remember in 2022 that T20 World Cup that England won. I asked him there, can you hit 100 mile an hour to follow on from the Brett Lee, Sean Turcho, Bacta, the trio that had done it in international cricket. He said,

no, I don't think they're in a different league to me, but I can bowl quicker consistently. I can keep my pace. They could have a higher maximum speed nudging just over 100 mile an hour. as those three were clocked on the speed gun, would thought that he could consistently remain quick over a full spell than they would, and I think that is borne out in the statistics. What about the mental toil, demands of playing international cricket?

You can sense it there, that struggle to be fit because he wanted to achieve, but he couldn't manage to do it. I mean, it's a top-level professional sport. It's a hard game. Yeah, it is. And Mark Wood is probably up there,

one of the most professional cricketers that I've ever seen in terms of diet and in terms of rehab, gym. I mean, I've seen it firsthand how he's been in the gym day after day. He's been working when everyone else has been out and having lunch and having a good time. He'd have been a bit a training session and then be in the gym for an hour and a half, two hours with the fitness, the S&C, the physios. He'd be on the physio bed getting taped all the time just to get him ready for games. And it's not easy.

First and foremost, as an international cricketer with the pressure that that comes with, been away for long periods from home, from your family, and then to suddenly have all these injury issues, which it sets you back massively. You work so hard to get fit, and you get that feeling of, I am now ready, I've done all the hard work. You play two or three games, you do well, and suddenly there's another setback. It's not easy from a mental side. And Mark Woods seemed to find a way to get through that. He seemed to find a way to stay positive when he went through those setbacks. He always had a smile in his face. He was always the pranks in the changing room. Even if he had a bad day you'd be able to see on his face but look him in his eyes and he'd give you that

smile and you just knew that he was still there and you know all credit to fast bowlers it's not an easy job and he seemed to find a way to get through it exceptionally well and and you're right it sort of gave up on him in the end and you can hear in his voice that he's so gutted that it had given up on him but you know he can still be proud of what he's achieved that last test match he played matt was in perth where it all went wrong and you know he admitted it there he just wasn't quite ready yeah it was i actually found it quite hard to listen to Woody being so down on himself talking there about the regrets he had

because he definitely shouldn't have regrets. Compare him a little bit in the way to Ben Stokes and the way that people talk about Stokes statistically might not be England's greatest ever cricketer and Mark Wood statistically might not be one of their greatest ever bowlers. But I think for the moments that he's provided, like Headingley, like that game and certainly,

sure I remember a rapid spelly bowled against West Indies in 2024 that summer. It took five for nine and not very many balls as well. Edgebaston you'll probably work in Simon. But yeah, it's quite hard to listen to him being down. But those special moments that he did provide should be what he remembers rather than Perth that didn't go as well. And I think he's admitted himself he wasn't quite fit.

And England had put so much in to try and get him fit for that Asher series and they just ultimately didn't manage to do it. Yeah, I mean, I love the fact actually when he was talking to that interview, St Lucia and Hedingly, those were the two moments when he bowled so fast. And it was kind of almost you feel scared for the batters watching it. You know, the cuajas of dismissal at Heeddon. the Anten Lush as well when he took those a bundle of wickets. What have you picked out

statistically about Mark Wood and his altzman? We'll just let we start with speed and obviously we know we've been in cricket. It's a very stats based game but there's just Mark would have been one of the most enjoyable cricketers to watch because he does something that

so few people have ever done in terms of the speed and the speed endurance he sherns and the 201-22 ashes England got hammered and Wood had ended up With 17 wickets in the series, nine of them in Hobart. He got six for 37 in Hobart, one of the best performances,

in Innings performances by an England bowler in an ashes match in Australia. But through that series, his sort of speed in his fourth and fifth spells of the day was absolutely phenomenal. He's bowled the 13 fastest recorded spells in tests in England since 2010. In all test cricket since 2019, his average speed is the fastest of any bowler, ahead of Arnick-Nork, Norkier, Mitchell,

Dark and Bangladesh's Nahid Rana. And the impact he had on that, Ashes in 2023, 14 wickets in the three tests he played at 20. But that one spell to Kowager, who'd batted hours and hours in the first two tests. It just felt like England had unleashed a new weapon. It totally changed the series. He was a huge part in England coming from 2-0 down

to draw two-wall a series they could so easily have won. And just looking at his, you know, he's not a cricketer. You can sum up in stats. But once he'd shortened his run-up, prior to which he'd taken 30 wickets and an average over 40 in his first 12 tests from when he shortened his run-up in early 2019 to the end of the 23 ashes

he had 74 wickets at 24 in 19 tests with 4-5ers his ODI average also came down he played a big part in that 2019 World Cup win and his strike rate in test game now from 76 with the longer run up to 45 with the shorter run up he started taking wickets at home which had been a bit of a glitch in his

in his CV but yeah there's you can look at the numbers with wood but as Matt said it was those moments and just the glory of watching someone bowl as fast as he did and with the skill he had was I think is what his

enduring legacy as an international cricket will be yeah it's one of the great aspects isn't it of cricket any cricket really international cricket or kind of cricket whatever even club cricket is somebody can run in and bowl fast a great leg spin at a great fast bowl and an absolute sort of gun batters those are the kind of the three things.

All international careers, all careers, all sports careers, come to an end. What happens next? Well, I hope he joins us here, doesn't he? More and more on the commentary box, because he is very good at it, isn't he? He's a very enjoyable listen. This talk, Woody's saying, that he's not retiring from cricket full stop,

as he has mentioned elsewhere, maybe some franchise cricket over the winter, maybe get back in the Durham team next year. The body isn't able to do multi-day cricket any more he thinks it isn't able to do 50 other cricket. So if he can get back and win Durham a T20 blast next year, I'm sure he'll see that as a good way to go out. Yeah, not said with any bias there at all.

He's set up for T10, isn't he, now? A couple of overs, T10, David? Yeah, well, there'll be a few teams knocking on his door as soon as he's been declared fit, and why wouldn't you? Two overs over 25 in a day, you'd be picking that, especially at his age. But, no, look, I think the fact that he hasn't got this England contract now

and the fact that he has retired, it sort of allows him to sort of write his own time frame. A lot of the times you're fighting against sort of windows where you need to be fit or want to be fit. He could probably have this whole winter off if he wanted and get himself fit for the blast next year or maybe even the IPL that comes on the beginning of the year. So he has a window where he can get himself as fit as he wants

without being under pressure. I think that takes a lot of the weight off his shoulders. What's it like, though, when you've played the top level and you are coming towards the end or it is the end? Yes, it's not easy. It's something I really struggled with as well. You end up playing at this level in front of 10, 15, 20, 30,000 people week and week out. You have the pressure, you have the everything that goes with it,

which really gets you up and going. And then suddenly you go to a franchise tournament in, I don't know, Canada or somewhere, and suddenly it's really hard to get yourself up for it. So, you know, Mark Wood has always been a player that gives 100% and I feel like if he wants to bowl 150 clicks every single day, he'll find a way of doing it. So it might be an easy transition for him. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

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