It takes unimaginable talent to even make it to the Test arena where threats of 90 mph bowling loom large and quite some character to get past one smacking you in the head. However, Alick Athanaze stood his ground with aplomb on Friday after a dizzying Mark Wood spell turned hostile.
West Indies navigated their troubles brilliantly in the second session of Day 2 at Trent Bridge to add 123 runs to their scorecard without losing a single wicket while chasing England’s total of 416. Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge both brought up their half-centuries, the former being his flamboyant self while the latter employed a more measured approach against some of the fastest bowling Test cricket has ever seen. That being said, it was not all smooth sailing for the duo, as Athanaze quickly learned while on the brink of a maiden Test fifty.
The young batter was up against Mark Wood in the 46th over, whose first spell in the morning session had gone down as the fastest by an English bowler on home soil in the ball-by-ball records era. The veteran quick clearly had his tail up and capitalized on the rhythm by banging in a sharp bumper on the deck to cap off the over. A crouched Athanaze shaped up to duck initially but before he could react, the ball had already travelled at 146 clicks and thumped right into the center of his helmet where the Windies badge is proudly emblazoned. Hodge at the other end, immediately curled up with a wince and turned his head away, feeling the impact of the blow from 22 yards away. However, his teammate valiantly remained on his feet as he took off his helmet and even though the pain was evident on his face, Athanaze dealt with the process like a seasoned veteran with the physio’s help.
Meanwhile, Wood and his teammates immediately ran up to the batter’s crease to check on their counterpart and the bowler was sporting enough to give his rival a high-five despite the sheer heat of the action. It was enough for Twitterati to flood social media with all sorts of reactions to the dangerous bowling spell and the wholesome moment that followed.
Lethal bouncer
What’s going on?
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) July 19, 2024
Having seen Mark Wood bowl to Rohit Sharma at 156 kmph with my naked eye sitting in the stadium could be my biggest cricket flex.
— Abhishek (@Abhviouss__) July 19, 2024
Coming and going
The faster they come, they faster they go back.
Alick Atahnaze to Mark Wood— Pushkar Singh (@pushkar_g_singh) July 19, 2024
Smacked him
Mark Wood is a waste … He bowled a 156kph bowl and Athanaze has smacked him for a cracking drive for boundary… #ENGvWI
— Gaurav Singh (@loggerheads36) July 19, 2024
West Indies batters are hooking and pulling Mark wood and Atkinson. Great To watch!!
Bad strategy by England… Negative Bowling. #ENGvWI— Gaurav Singh (@loggerheads36) July 19, 2024
Maiden fifity
Maiden Test fifty for Athanaze, brought up a couple of balls after being sconed on the helmet by Mark Wood
— Alan Gardner (@alanroderick) July 19, 2024
Fastest at home
Mark Wood bowls fastest Test over by England pacer at home https://t.co/A8py7igkIm#cricketdaily
— Sivakumar V (@veeyeskay) July 19, 2024
Trying to work out how much money you’d have to pay me to face an over from Mark Wood… 97.1 mph… FFS #ENGvWI
— George Plank (@_georgeplank_) July 19, 2024
Money matters
You would have to pay me a lot of money to face Mark Wood !!!
— Justin it for the Cloutinho (@JUSTIN_AVFC_) July 19, 2024
