\n<\/p>\n
This was the first time in his Test career that Wood has taken five wickets in a single spell, and there some truly eye-catching dismissals to savour.<\/p>\n
He started by trapping Joshua Da Silva lbw with a toe-crushing full ball which the West Indies wicketkeeper knew was plumb, wasting no time in exiting stage left.<\/p>\n
Shortly after Alzarri Joseph saw his middle stump uprooted by a delivery which tailed in past his bat before Hodge prodded at one and edged it into the gloves of Jamie Smith.<\/p>\n
With three wickets in the bag Wood went for the kill, as the decibel levels in the Eric Hollies Stand rose every time an over of his began.<\/p>\n
They sensed this was fast bowling of the highest calibre, and would doubtless even have drawn nods of approval from the great West Indian fast bowlers of yore.<\/p>\n
Wood then sent Jayden Seales’ off stump cartwheeling out of the ground \u2013 the most spectacular dismissal of the lot – having softened up the tail ender with a short ball moments earlier.<\/p>\n
He secured his fourth five-wicket haul in 35 Tests two balls later when Shamar Joseph edged him to second slip where Harry Brook snaffled a smart diving catch.<\/p>\n
There were eyebrows raised when Wood was handed a three-year central contract by the England & Wales Cricket Board last November, a couple of months shy of his 34th birthday.<\/p>\n
He was only two players to be given deals of that length \u2013 the other was Brook \u2013 but on this evidence it looks a smart call despite his age.<\/p>\n
Wood is bowling as quickly, aggressively and smartly as ever. A promise to break the 100mph could well come later in the summer when Sri Lanka visit for three Tests.<\/p>\n
The fitness problems which plagued Wood earlier in his career, and deprived England of this type of menacing spell, also appear a thing of the past. Everything is clicking.<\/p>\n
As a teetotaller he might not welcome the analogy, but like a fine wine Wood appears to be getting better with age.<\/p>\n
More to follow.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n