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• England captain Stokes backs electric Wood to break 100mph

  Ben Stokes would much rather play alongside Mark Wood than face his England team-mate as he backed the fast bowler to break 100mph soon.

  The Durham quick clocked 97.1mph – the fastest delivery of his Test career – on the speed gun in the second red-ball encounter against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

  Indeed, none of the 34-year-old's balls registered lower than 90mph during an electrifying opening spell before Wood removed Kevin Sinclair with a vicious delivery on Sunday.

  Sinclair could only fend into the air for a simple dismissal, with the Windies' off-spinner ruled out of the third Test at Edgbaston after that blow fractured his left forearm.

  England captain Stokes believes there is more to come from Wood, which is a worrying warning to the visitors.

  "He's got it in the tank," said Stokes. "He's been close a couple of times. Maybe one day."

  Shoaib Akthar and Shaun Tait are the only Test bowlers to register a delivery at 100mph, with Wood's speed expected to be key for The Ashes in Australia across the end of next year and start of 2026.

  "He seems to be getting closer and closer to that," Stokes added. "But I'm happy with what he's doing right now to be honest.

  "Being able to sustain that pace is quite phenomenal. Look at his average speeds every time he plays a Test match – it's always above 90mph. That says a lot about his fitness.

  "It's all fine and well trying to bowl one spell above 90. But every spell he bowls for England, he's clocking over 90mph, and that's a great thing to have as a captain.

  "I don't know if he's actually too bothered about it. One day, everything might click, or the speed gun might be wrong.

  "We probably wouldn't hear the end of it. Who knows, maybe one day."

  Wood will be expected to unleash his pace once more after Stokes named an unchanged XI for the third and final Test at Edgbaston, where play starts on Friday.

• Bashir credits 'class' Leach for his recent England success

  Shoaib Bashir has drawn inspiration from fellow England spinner Jack Leach, following his stunning five-wicket haul against West Indies. 

  Bashir recorded figures of 5-41 at Trent Bridge to become the first spinner since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006 to take five wickets in a men's Test match. 

  The 20-year-old also became England's youngest ever bowler to take five wickets in a home Test as the hosts confirmed the series win on Sunday.

  Bashir replaced Somerset team-mate Leach for the home Test series against West Indies after impressing on England’s tour of India.

  Prior to being picked for their 4-1 Test defeat to the Men in Blue, Bashir had played in six first-class matches and picked up two five-wicket hauls in three matches.

  "We had a chat, and he was over the moon for me," Bashir told BBC Sport on his conversation with Leach after his performance at Trent Bridge. 

  "Leachy understandably is getting in the Somerset team ahead of me. He's played a lot more cricket than me and he's a class spinner. I've learned a lot from him.

  "A lot of things have happened over the last few years for myself personally, and I'm just grateful for everything."

  Still behind Leach in the Somerset pecking order, Bashir went on loan to Worcestershire in order to remain in the County Championship.

  Bashir did not feature in England's first Test meeting with the Windies, as they won by an innings and 114 runs in James Anderson's final match. 

  At six feet and four inches, he is unusually tall for a spinner and his release point of 2.35 metres is the third-highest recorded for a slow bowler in Test cricket.

  Nevertheless, England believe it will serve as a weapon on the hard, bouncy pitches ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia.

  "I'm grateful I'm a six foot four inch spinner because it's a nice attribute to have," Bashir said. "If you land the ball in the right areas, a few will bounce and a few will skid on, so the bounce does help.

  "It's always a learning curve. I'm grateful for everything that's been given to me, and I've just got to keep working hard. I'm still learning, still developing."

• Gambhir will not 'complicate' India's winning formula

  India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir says he does not want to "complicate too many things" as he prepares to take charge of the team for the first time.

  India were crowned T20 World Cup champions last month, with Rahul Dravid bowing out of his time in charge on a high.

  Dravid was head coach for two-and-a-half years, leading them to the finals of a world event in each of the three formats.

  Gambhir's tenure begins on July 27 with India's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, as the 42-year-old steps into his first head coaching job, having previously worked as a mentor for Indian Premier League sides, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants.

  Gambhir admitted he did not want to make too many changes given India's recent success and believes the key to that is to start by building trust.

  "It is very simple," Gambhir said in his first interview as head coach, "it is important to give players freedom - that's what I believe in - and not have a relationship of a head coach and a player.

  "The best relationship is one built on trust. The most important thing is they'll always have my backing.

  "I don't complicate too many things. I am taking over a very, very successful team - India are T20 world champions, have been runners-up in the World Test Championship and the 50-overs World Cup."

  As a player, Gambhir enjoyed a 13-year career which saw him win the World Cup in 2007 and 2011.

  Despite not having a lot of coaching experience behind him, Gambhir knows what it takes to win in big moments.

  "My learning has been simple - it has been all about winning," he added.

  "I don't deviate from something. We are in a profession where there can be only one winner. We try and play fair, we try and play hard, and try and come back in a winning dressing room and a happy dressing room.

  "A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. Ultimately, it is the players' team. The support staff is there to try and get the maximum out of their potential.

  "Sometimes international cricket can be tough, it can be insecure as well, because only 15 can be picked. It is the job of support staff to keep them happy."

  India's T20I series begins on July 27 in Pallekele.