Against a formidable Mark Wood-led bowling attack, West Indies all-rounder Kavem Hodge got his first-ever Test century in the second Test match at Trent Bridge against England. Wood’s barrage of lightning-fast deliveries throughout the Test match produced an unforgettable bat-ball clash.
After suffering a humiliating loss in the opening Test match at Lord’s, the visitors were under tremendous pressure to perform well on English soil. Playing in his fourth Test match at the age of 31, Hodge rose to the challenge and helped the West Indies get back into the contest with an outstanding performance.
“It’s a dream come true; you play the game against England at the highest level when you’re a young player growing up and that’s something you want to do.” According to ESPNcricinfo, Hodge stated, “I’m really happy and satisfied about it, especially also the position of the team; it’s always good to help the team’s cause.”
James Anderson, who recently retired, was replaced by Wood in the England starting lineup. Immediately establishing himself, the right-arm quick bowled the fastest Test over ever by an England bowler on home soil. His first over had an incredible 94.40 mph average, and one delivery reached a whopping 96.5 mph (155.30 km/h).
Taking on men such as Mark Wood was difficult, but ultimately rewarding: Kavem Hodge
In his second over, Wood carried on the assault, reaching even higher speeds—he peaked at 97.1 mph (156.26 km/h). Hodge in particular found the environment produced by this unrelenting pace attack to be difficult for the West Indian batsmen. The all-round player talked about his encounter.
“It was cruel. It’s not every day that you show up to play against someone who bowls every ball at a speed of over 90 mph. One time, I joked with him, saying, “Hey, I have a wife and kids at home.” However, I believe that greatly increased the century’s satisfaction. Test cricket is tough, difficult, and mentally taxing. Facing guys like Mark Wood was an experience that was both difficult and fulfilling “, he continued.
Hodge handled the pressure well, not only keeping up but even thriving at the speed. With an innings of 120 runs off 171 deliveries, Hodge and Alick Athanaze shared a vital 175 runs, which helped West Indies finish the day 351 for 5. Hodge’s century was not just a team win but also a personal one.
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“There were moments when you began to question your abilities because you weren’t receiving the chance. Due to Covid, there were occasions when we had to play a format dubbed “best vs best” to choose the Test team. First, the guys would be brought in, and then the squad would be divided into two groups and play warm-up games to choose the team. ‘We’re not going to select you, we’re looking in this way,’ a selector or coach would approach me each time, he continued. I think I’ve participated in that six or seven times.
India
