BUMBLE ON THE TEST: Jamie Smith wowed like Kevin Pietersen and Adam Gilchrist as England completed their rout of West Indies
- England racked up 10-wicket victory and a 3-0 series sweep against West Indies
- Mark Wood, Jamie Smith and Joe Root starred for England across the third Test
Mark Wood blew the West Indies away with a ferocious spell of fast bowling as England racked up a thumping 10-wicket victory and a 3-0 series sweep in three days at Edgbaston.
Wood brought the heat in Birmingham, terrorising the tourists as he ended their second-innings resistance with the kind of destructive performance once associated with the kings of Caribbean cricket.
Ben Stokes then showed the same panache with the bat, taking a rare turn at opener and blazing the fastest ever half-century by an Englishman – taking just 24 frantic deliveries.
Mail Sport's David 'Bumble' Lloyd offers his thoughts on England's perfect start to the summer.
Smith wows like Gilchrist and KP
I’ve heard a lot about Jamie Smith from some very knowledgeable people, but this weekend was the first time seeing him in the flesh. Wow, and double wow.
I haven’t been on the edge of my seat like that since the days of Kevin Pietersen. Smith is going to be around a very long time. He’s going to take games away from the opposition. Shades of Adam Gilchrist.
Jamie Smith’s dazzling 95 helped England complete their 3-0 series rout of West Indies
My getaway with a Bond Girl
Blue for Bob Day was fantastic. You wonderful people raised an enormous amount of money. It was £230,000 and counting on Saturday evening.
My day was capped off when I shared a cab to New Street Station with Miss Moneypenny aka Samantha Bond. What an absolute sweetheart. You will be pleased to know, dear reader, that I refrained from saying: The name’s Bond, Brooke Bond.
Rocky Flintoff looks a knockout
Rocky Flintoff became Lancashire’s youngest ever cricketer at Blackpool on Sunday. Make no mistake, he’s a proper player and very mature for 16. Exciting times! Head down! Always loved it in Blackpool.
After play, we'd clear off to the Pleasure Beach, have a go on the Big Dipper, the slot machines, and finish up with a bag of whelks. Fresh air was required in the dressing room next morning.
Rocky Flintoff became Lancashire’s youngest ever cricketer at Blackpool on Sunday
Hundred must be a ton of fun
After so many years working in television, I fancy myself as a cricket producer. I watched a Hundred game last week and without naming names, if I had been a producer, I would have played the coverage back to them next day and asked for observations.
It was awful. This competition is all about having fun. I’ll leave it with you.
Wood will strike fear into Aussies
Mark Wood is approaching the age of 35, but he’s still banging his deliveries out at 90-plus miles per hour. Pace is a potent force. Is he on course for the Ashes? Well, he looks like he is to me.
That’s back-to-back Tests with no let-up in his speed, and so he’s not doing his case any harm. Fast bowlers clean up tails as he did perfectly yesterday. You just can’t beat the menace of a genuinely fast because it disturbs the minds of opponents.
