Ben Stokes hails Mark Wood's 'phenomenal' performance in England's Test victory and series whitewash of West Indies

Ben Stokes hailed the ‘phenomenal’ performance of fast bowler Mark Wood in rushing England to another incredible Test victory and a series whitewash of West Indies.

Wood obliterated the West Indian batting on the third day at Edgbaston to redress an imbalance in fortune that saw him pass the outside edge 40 times in Nottingham last week, striking five times in a scintillating 21-ball sequence that teed up a 10-wicket win.

‘It was phenomenal. He’s walked off with five wickets there but I still don’t think he’s got the rewards he’s deserved with the effort he’s put in over the two Test matches. He’s been incredible,’ England captain Stokes said.

‘Obviously he’s known for running in spell after spell, ball after ball and giving everything he can for the team and the shirt, but that spell this afternoon was just absolutely awesome.

‘Not only was it fast, it was extremely skilful, and it was at a time when I’d sensed ‘this was time to blow them away.’

That Wood, 34, finished with overall figures of seven for 92 and the man-of-the-match award was down in part to England turning West Indies’ aggression on itself.

The key moment came when Mikyle Louis launched Shoaib Bashir for a second six: the ball thudded into the concrete steps at the Birmingham end, scuffing it perfectly for reverse swing.

Stokes explained: ‘That's why it started doing loads.’ Adding with a smile that he told Kavem Hodge out in the middle that his fellow half-centurion Louis was to blame.

Combining devastating late movement with pace in excess of 90 miles per hour, Wood thudded the ball into pads, caught the edge and sent stumps cartwheeling in a display that had the infamous Hollies Stand roaring in approval.

Stokes then built on the mood by crunching an England Test record 24-ball 50 as emergency opener, with Zak Crawley nursing a fractured little finger that could require surgery.

‘I was always going to go out there and try to be ultra-positive,’ Stokes said, after surpassing Ian Botham’s 28-ball effort against India in Delhi in 1981.

‘The new ball feels a bit better off the bat than a slightly older, softer one and once one hit the middle I was like: ah, I might as well have a crack.’

It meant that for the second time during this 3-0 victory, England brought up 50 from 4.2 overs, and they required only 44 deliveries all told to reach their 82-run target.

Wood’s fellow paceman Gus Atkinson was named player of the series for his collection of 22 wickets and Stokes said both he and Surrey colleague Jamie Smith had ‘performed above what people were expecting them to do.’

He added: ‘It’s great for Gus and Jamie that they know they are capable of delivering in all different types of situations. It is going to hold them in good stead.’