MARK WOOD blew the West Indies away with a ferocious spell of fast bowling today as England racked up a thumping 10-wicket victory and a 3-0 series sweep in three days at Edgbaston.

Wood brought the heat in Birmingham, terrorising the tourists as he ended their second-innings resistance with the kind of destructive performance once associated with the kings of Caribbean cricket.

Ben Stokes then showed the same panache with the bat, taking a rare turn at opener and blazing the fastest ever half-century by an Englishman — taking just 24 frantic deliveries.

The 35-year-old, who left Trent Bridge with just two wickets last week despite clearing 97mph in one of the fastest displays ever seen on English soil, finally saw his luck change as he picked up five for 40.

He took them in a ferocious spell after lunch, dismissing Josh Da Silva, Alzarri Joseph, Kavem Hodge, Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph in the space of 21 dramatic deliveries.

By the time he was done the tourists had slumped from 156 for five to 175 all-out, leaving England chasing just 82 to win.

With Zak Crawley sent for scans on a finger injury he sustained in the slips, captain Stokes took the opportunity to promote himself to opener and gave the crowd the entertainment they came for.

Stokes blasted 10 fours and two sixes as he made 57 not out in just 28 balls, slapping the Windies attack around like it was a benefit match.

England’s whitewash is a welcome one as they last won a multi-match series back in December 2022, but the fact they have needed just 10 days of active cricket out of a scheduled 15 also gives cause for concern.

This is a West Indies side that has struggled to stay competitive for extended periods, lacks experience and depth and continues to operate without the region’s best known players, several of whom such as Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell are currently in this country cashing in on contracts in the Hundred.

With a modest-looking Sri Lanka side arriving for three Tests in the second half of the summer, more early finishes and more big margins could well be on the way.

But that is a concern for the administrators rather than the players on the park, who did their work with flair and authority here.