Sawt Falasteen - Stokes hails 'lion-hearted' Wood as England rout West Indies for series sweep

Wood polished off the tail with a thrilling spell of 5-9 in six overs to finish with 5-40 in 14 as the West Indies were dismissed for 175 in their second innings.

That left England needing just 82 to win, with Stokes -- opening in place of the injured Zak Crawley -- smashing a 24-ball fifty as he broke Ian Botham's record for the quickest Test half-century by an England batsman of 28 balls against India in Delhi that had stood since 1981.

Stokes, however, preferred to heap praise on Durham team-mate Wood after the 35-year-old express quick, unlucky to take just two wickets during England's win in the second Test at Trent Bridge last week, was properly rewarded for a potent post-lunch spell in Birmingham.

All the traits of a modern top-class fast bowler were on show as Wood -- whose career has been blighted by injuries -- mixed bouncers with full-length deliveries that flattened the stumps, while repeatedly threatening the outside edge with reverse swing.

"It was an amazing spell," said Stokes. "He's got the heart of a lion and that's exactly what you want as a captain.

"The skill and the X-factor he has... it looked like he was going to take a wicket every ball.

"He's just been incredible. He's known for running in spell after spell, ball after ball, and giving everything he possibly can towards the team and the shirt but that spell this afternoon was awesome.

"Not only was it fast but it was extremely skilful and came at a time when I sensed it was time to blow them away."

- 'Ultra-positive' -

As for his batting exploits, which eventually took left-handed batsman Stokes to 57 not out off 28 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, the 33-year-old all-rounder said: "I was always going to go out there and try to be ultra-positive. At a certain stage it was just about trying to hit every ball for four or six.

"Once one hit the middle I was like, yeah I might as well have a crack.

"I genuinely didn't know about the record. Paul Collingwood (the England assistant coach) told me up in the dressing-room that I had the fastest 50 for England, he's the one that checks the records.

"I'm pretty chuffed to go past 'Beefy' (Botham). A bottle of champagne would be appreciated!"

At the start of this series, England revamped their side following a 4-1 campaign loss in India earlier this year, with Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Jack Leach -- joined after one Test by record wicket-taker James Anderson -- all dropped, as young guns Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Shoaib Bashir came into the team.

The trio made their presence felt, with fast bowler Atkinson named player of the series after taking 22 wickets, off-spinner Bashir producing a match-winning five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge and Smith shining with innings of 70 at Lord's and 95 at Edgbaston, as well as impressing throughout with his wicketkeeping.

"I feel what we are good at is identifying something in a player that stands out," said Stokes after the conclusion of England's first Test series win since 2022. "It's nice to see those decisions pay off.

"I love nothing more than seeing my team-mates do well and flourish. You always want them to go out and succeed, I'm quite exuberant in that sense."

M.AlAhmad--SF-PST