Watch: Mark Wood flattens Kirk McKenzie's middle stump with 146kmph ripper in 3rd ENG vs WI Test

Mark Wood's dismissal of Kirk Mckenzie headlined England's good first session in the third Test at Edgbaston. West Indies have lost wickets early in the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and opted to bat first.

While he has been solid at one end going past his fifty, West Indies have lost wickets from the other end. Opener Mikyle Louis went for 26 after adding a 76-run stand with his skipper.

That is when the slide began for the visitors. From 76 for 1, they were down to 97/3 in the first session of play. The openers added 48 in the first hour and the England bowlers came back in the second hour picking 3 for 49.

Kirk McKenzie's dismissal by Mark Wood was the special one of the day. The England pacer bowling at 146 kmph bowled a fuller delivery that breached through his defense and rattled the stumps. The southpaw could only score 12 off nine balls before he was dismissed. Gus Atkinson dismissed Alick Athanaze in quick succession to leave the hosts three down at lunch.

Also Read: Kane Williamson and Chris Woakes sign up for Durban's Super Giants ahead of SA20 2025

Watch: Mark Wood's Pace Beats Kirk McKenzie's Defense

Why look for the outside edge...

When you can take middle stump out the ground! 🔥 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->o<!---->j<!---->i<!---->q<!---->B<!---->t<!---->W<!---->g<!---->X<!---->F

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

The likes of Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, and Joshua Da Silva are to follow in the batting order. This is where the experienced middle-order needs to step up in the first innings. So far West Indies have been outplayed with the bat in hand. They were bowled out for 136 and 121 in the first Test.

In the second Test, they scored 457 in the innings and showed some fight. However, they were bowled out for 143 chasing 386 for victory. In the first innings of the final Test match, they find themselves in trouble once again. England have already won the Test series by winning the first two Test matches. They are now looking for a clean sweep.

The Test series loss has pushed West Indies to the last position on the WTC points table. They have just won one out of the six Test matches played and lost four. They have a PCT of 22.22. England courtesy of back-to-back wins have moved up to the sixth position on the points table with a a PCT of 36.66. India leads the table with 74 points and a PCT of 68.51. Australia and New Zealand are currently placed second and third. In the WTC 2023-2025, teams will get 12 points for a win, 4 for a draw, and 6 for a tie.

Earlier in the day, West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first. Windies skipper Brathwaite said that as a side they wanted to use the weather and put runs on the board. However, as things stand at the moment they are in trouble with already three down, and this is just the first day of the Test match.

Also Read: After Ben Stokes, Mark Butcher claims Mark Wood can bowl a 100mph thunderbolt in Test Cricket