Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club’s Player of the Month for June is Luke Wood.

The 19-year-old has been a consistent wicket taker since forcing his way into the four day team, taking 19 wickets in five appearances at an average of 28.15 this season.

It is, however, a performance with the bat that grabbed most headlines during the month of June after Wood scored a century from 95 balls, and followed it with a second innings fifty, in the 159 run victory over Sussex at Trent Bridge.

Director of Cricket Mick Newell called the century the most remarkable he’s ever seen, and Wood admitted it was a performance with which he even surprised himself.

“Being a bowler, you don’t expect accolades for your batting,” he said. “But I’ve show I can do both and it’s become a major factor in what I contribute to the team. It has probably helped me get selected as well.

“I’ve been chipping away with the ball, but I haven’t picked up a five-fer as yet, so to make a major contribution to a game by getting a hundred was very nice, and it was nice to contribute towards a win.”

As well as following Alex Hales and Riki Wessels in winning the Player of the Month Award for his county in 2015, presented by Adam Pye (Managing Director of Team Sponsor John Pye Auctions) at Trent Bridge today, Wood has also received a nomination nationally for the LV= Breakthrough Player Award.

Jack Leaning (Yorkshire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Craig Miles (Gloucestershire), Tom Curran (Surrey), and Alex Davies (Lancashire) make up the other five nominees, and Wood feels honoured to be in such talented company.

“It came as a bit of a surprise,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be nominated for breakthrough player and, looking at the other five, there is a lot of talent there. It’s nice to be selected for that, as well as the Nottinghamshire one.

“It’s all surprising for me - I wouldn’t have expected any of this at the start of the season.

“I’m obviously happy with how things have gone so far and hopefully I can take that form into the rest of the season.”

Having played in five successive four day fixtures, Wood has been pulled out of the firing line for the current fixture against Worcestershire.

The Worksop born all-rounder admits it’s tough watching from the boundary edge, but believes his form for the remainder of the campaign will benefit from the rest and recuperation, and that Members and supporters will see plenty more of his trademark passionate celebrations.

“Being rested is being rested,” he said. “Obviously I want to get out there and play, but I understand that I needed a break.

“Hopefully it will put me in good stead for the games that follow and I can crack on with more good performances from there.

“It would be nice to get that five-fer under my belt, but it’s not about individual performances, it’s about the team. If I can keep chipping away and that’s helping to win games, I’ll take that.

“You never know what’s around the corner. Each wicket could be the last wicket you take. It’s what I do, it’s nice to celebrate every wicket and it’s definitely not something I’m going to stop now.”

 

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