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ASHINGTON'S WORLD CUP CRICKETING WINNER MARK WOOD: "IT HASN'T SUNK IN"

ASHINGTON'S WORLD CUP CRICKETING WINNER MARK WOOD: "IT HASN'T SUNK IN"

brian bennett22 Jul 2019 - 13:42
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In 1966, Ashington footballing brothers Bobby and Jackie Charlton returned home as World Cup winners ......

after England had defeated West Germany 4-2 in extra time at Wembley Stadium. Fifty-three years later after England’s cricketers clinched what was an iconic ICC Men’s World Cup final over New Zealand, Ashington-born bowler Mark Wood admitted that the reality of being a sporting hero had still not sunk in. At Lord’s – the home of cricket - with the scores of the 50 overs contest being tied and then the ‘super over’ also level, England lifted the prized possession by virtue of having scored more boundaries. Wood, the popular 29 year old was naturally ecstatic. Here he answers questions put to him in an interview with Ashington Cricket Club’s press officer BRIAN BENNETT:
Q: Has the achievement of becoming a World Cup winner sunk in?
A: Honestly no. We have gone from a team in the bubble to being back home and I – unlike the fans - haven’t felt the impact. The whole week has been epic and fantastic though and a little bit surreal - and being one of the first cricketers for England to win a World Cup winners medal feels pretty special.
Q: In the games leading up to the final did you think you were performing well?
A: Yes I did. Overall I ended the tournament with 18 wickets which is the second highest ever by an Englishman in a World Cup with Jofra Archer taking 20. Sir Ian Botham had 16 so to be above a person of such stature is especially pleasing and a great honour.
Q: After England reached the final, were you keeping your fingers crossed to be in the side against New Zealand?
A: Throughout the tournament I felt good physically. I was bowling with high pace and felt I was ready to go. I was delighted to be selected to play in the final but would have understood if I had had to make way.
Q: When Adil Rashid was out and you were last man to go to the wicket with England requiring two runs to win from the last ball, what were your thoughts?
A: Earlier, I had felt sick in the dressing room at the thought that I might have to hit the winning runs - but the situation was clear because Ben Stokes was going to be on strike and all I had to do was run.
Q: You were run out going for the second (run). Did you know you were out or did you have to wait for the replay?
A: Stokes was very much in the zone but I said to him “No matter what happens I am going to run as hard as I can. Ben was switched on – it was a high pressure situation – and although he tried to hit the ball into a gap, he clipped it almost perfectly to the fielder. I knew I was out by a long way although I dived to try and get in from a long way out. I had gone to the wicket wearing a thigh pad, chest pad and arm guard and in hindsight I probably would have run a bit faster without them. However earlier I thought we were dead and buried but as we got closer to the target, I started to believe again and so for us to get to the super over was incredible. Stokes was just magnificent and – considering it was the World Cup final – it was one of the best knocks you’ll ever see.
Q: Were you in the reckoning to bowl the super over for England?
A: No. I had torn my side three balls before the end of my spell and James Vince went out to field as my replacement for the super over. I’m a terrible spectator and watching made me more nervous. It was nerve wracking and I couldn’t stand still.
Q: What were your thoughts after the scores were tied again and England won on boundaries?
A: When Jos Buttler whipped the bails off for the run out, it was pure ecstasy and passion. People were high five-ing and the emotion got to everybody. We celebrated in the corner where our family and friends were and I had plenty of support – so I saw my wife Sarah, my mam and dad, my mother-in-law Brenda, Auntie Carol and my three best pals, Jonny Storey, Scott Dunn and Glen Taylor.
Q: Was this the most outstanding cricket match you have ever played in?
A: For every English supporter it was the best game ever – it doesn’t get any bigger than that. It was perfect for the neutral spectator and was the greatest spectacle there has ever been in terms of drama. The occasion for me was amazing.
Q: What was it like to meet the Prime Minister Theresa May?
A: On Monday we went to the Oval (home of Surrey CC) and it was great to see all the kids there. They were happy to see us and hopefully it would be nice to think we have inspired the next Stokes or Archer. It is always nice to be recognised by the Prime Minister who said we had done the country proud - and that’s what we set out to do.
Q: You said you were injured so what lies ahead for you with the Ashes against the Australians looming?
A: I put a lot of effort in over the past few weeks and ultimately we won the final but I have a small tear in my side and will be out for six weeks. It would be good to be called up later for the Ashes series and as Durham have a promotion push on, I could contribute to that as well.
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