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Akhtar wants Wood to pull trucks if English pacer wants to bowl at 100 mph

In his international career, Mark Wood has been susceptible to injuries

Akhtar wants Wood to pull trucks if English pacer wants to bowl at 100 mph PHOTO: AFP/FILE

Former Pakistani speed beast Shoaib Akhtar suggested England fast bowler Mark Wood to begin pushing trucks if he wants to reach 100 miles per hour.

In a 2003 World Cup match against England, Akhtar bowled one of the fastest delivery in cricket history, and that maintains the record of the game (161.3 km/h).

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In his international career, Mark Wood has been susceptible to injuries. Wood began with a very short run-up and created significant speed as a result, but repeated injuries compelled him to change his technique.

Wood chose to lengthen his run-up in order to reduce the strain on his body after speaking with former West Indies great Michael Holding.

In the most recent T20 World Cup in Australia, Wood's speed was measured at 96 miles per hour.

Akhtar, who is now a very outspoken expert, has some tips for the England quick if he wants to get faster. “Mark Wood, a great looking guy and a lovely human being with a beautiful action, that’s what I like to see!” he said as quoted by The Telegraph Cricket.

“A couple of things I have noticed. He loses his follow-through. Thank god he shortened his run-up. He lands on the left foot, and you see often he collapses on the pitch because he cannot control the follow-through.

“If he is thinking that he cannot bowl more than 155, he is absolutely wrong there! If he wants to bowl 100mph, he needs to start pulling trucks. I made the pitches about 26 yards. I made a ball about four times heavier than normal. I trained by doing a lot of weights, riding the bicycle with weights on it. I would do about 1000 reps.

“I noticed I developed muscles that I had never been able to touch before. Little did I know that I was losing my knees, bones and cartilage at the same time. Whoever can bowl 150kph has 10ks in reserve, with the right preparation and the right recuperation.”

In the second Test at Multan, England is expected to unleash Mark Wood after the visitors spooked the Pakistan batters with some short-pitched bowling on the fourth day.

After Liam Livingstone was ruled out of the entire series due to a knee injury, it remains to be seen who Wood will replace in the team.

The second Test begins on December 9, and the final Test will be played in Karachi on December 17.