Mark Wood earns his wings as bombastic display provides Ashes lift-off
When England travel overseas, their seating plans are done in alphabetical order. As such, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood end up sitting next to each other.
Wood is an incredibly nervous flyer. So much so that, on internal flights on smaller planes, Woakes has often held his hand during take-offs and landings to keep his mate at ease.
They also bring treats for each other on tour. Wood makes sure to pack Woakes' favourite chocolate digestives, and Woakes returns the favour with Ferrero Rochers. It's worth pointing out that the exchange of treats does not happen immediately, only when one senses the other needs some home comforts.
During the Headingley Test - each man's first appearance of this Ashes series - they drove into the ground together all week. And on Sunday, these two best of friends reinforced their bond with a stand of 24 from 14 balls in the contest's fraught closing moments. Together they hauled England over the line by three wickets to leave the scoreline 2-1 in Australia's favour with two Tests to play.
Both have their own individual joys to take from a gripping third Test. Woakes' 32 not out in the chase after taking six for 141 across the two innings marked a stellar comeback, having played what he feared might have been his last Test on the tour of the Caribbean in March 2022.
For Wood, it was as close as he has come in 28 caps to the perfect performance. A sentiment made official when he was given the player-of-the-match award for the first time in a home Test.
The Durham quick took five for 34 on day one, including a blistering four-over spell in which he did not drop under 91mph, the fastest delivery registering at 96.5mph and Usman Khawaja's leg stump taken out with one at 95mph. An eight-ball cameo for 24 after lunch on day two reignited England's first innings - and got Ben Stokes' juices pumping in the process - to ensure Australia only led by 26 going into their second innings, having at one stage looked good for a 100-plus advantage.
In the end, that lead was only extended to 250 partly due to Wood's second-innings two for 66. He capped it all off with a similarly thrilling 16 off eight deliveries, including a momentum-shifting six off Pat Cummins - his fourth of the game - to help England home.
Even with all that to himself, the Durham quick (or should that be allrounder?) could not help bring Woakes into the frame when discussing his emotions.
"One of the best feelings I've had," Wood said of being out there at the end for victory. "I've been in that position a lot where I've lost the game, that's the first time I've been able to bat to win the game.
"Especially being there with Woakesy. We've car-shared all week, we've got a lucky car [parking] space, we've promised that we'd get runs and wickets. I think we will park in the same place every time we turn up here."
Wood's thunderbolts with the ball exceeded expectations, particularly given he missed Lord's because of an issue with a right elbow that was operated on twice last summer. But it was the batting that stole the show. His 40 runs across the match came at a strike-rate of 250. The first of the 16 balls he faced, at the start of the second session on day two, was a bouncer from Mitchell Starc. He hooked it into the stands at midwicket.
Eagled-eyed viewers will have spotted Wood using a new set of bats this summer, having swapped brands from New Balance to SG. Though he was happy with the initial batch delivered to him, he found them slightly too heavy. When the replacements arrived he thought they were too light. It turns out they were just right.
It's worth noting, Wood's six boundaries were not fortuitous swings of a wispier blade. Prior to that first ball from Starc, he had spent the lunch interval in the indoor nets with Paul Collingwood, bracing himself for a short-pitch assault. It has been a common tactic this series and Wood himself had indulged it to nab a fourth-career five-for the day before. He rightly figured Australia's quicks would be eager to take their revenge. The preparation, both during and in the lead-up to this match, has paid off handsomely.
"All I've done is practise bouncers for two weeks," he revealed. "I haven't practised anything pitched up - that's genuine. Colly has been slinging those yellow balls. They sting but don't hurt. You get used to playing the shot, getting in strong positions, and waiting as much as I can to do well.
"It fills me with great pride to say I can do well against Australia. Look at facing Cummins and Starc. One, it's not easy. Two, it's really intimidating. They're bowling fast, they get good bounce. More often than not they come out on top. Luckily this time, it's the one out of 100 I've managed to get through."
Whether Wood will be able to go again for the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford remains to be seen. Though he has stitched consecutive matches together recently, with two back-to-back in Pakistan last winter and three on the bounce at the end of the 2021-22 Ashes, England will be understandably cautious, even though a nine-day gap offers a grace period.
Having sent down 28.4 overs after subsisting primarily on four-over bursts - his previous match before this one had been on April 15 for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL - much will depend how Wood's body, and especially the elbow, react. There are also wounds on his forearms from repeatedly falling over in his follow-through, but those are less of a concern.
Ben Stokes will be desperate to utilise him for the two remaining matches given how instrumental his pace has been in keeping the Ashes alive. The man himself is unsure.
"I will speak to the physio, but I imagine I will bowl once or twice, a couple of gym sessions, maybe some running, but it won't be too drastic. I have to let the body recover. It's my first game in a very, very long time, especially in Test cricket. Off the back of bowling four overs, and I didn't do too much of that either. I will let the body recover, get myself in a good space, let the wounds recover, and get myself up for the next one. "
As ever, there is willing. Asked if he could crank it up once more and test the limits of the speed gun, Woodanswered unequivocally.
"Absolutely. Lightning strikes twice, eh?"