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The Hampshire seamer reflects on last season’s Vitality Blast campaign
Having made his debut in April 2009, Chris Wood has since become one of the Hampshire squad’s most vital and senior members – especially in the T20 format. He called time on his red-ball career in 2020 to focus more of his time on limited over cricket instead and, as a result, has become a crucial part of the T20 team.
Across his 11 matches in the 2021 Vitality Blast, the 31-year-old took 13 wickets at an average of 25, as Hampshire Hawks made it all the way to Finals Day. Despite an injury keeping him from full fitness, Wood was positive about his impact on the whole.
“I thought I had a good season,” he said. “I was struggling along the way with a knee issue unfortunately, but I managed to soldier on for the rest of the season and managed to get to Finals Day.”
A semi-final clash with Somerset was the only thing that stood in the way of Wood and his team reaching the final and possibly lifting silverware at Edgbaston. However, it wasn’t meant to be as Hampshire fell to defeat in the final over.
“It was all a bit of a blur really,” Wood said. “As I look back and reflect, I realize that we probably should have won that game.”
“Being involved in the vital overs at the back end of the match, I probably didn't do my job as well as I should have, which probably played a part in us not getting through the final.
However, Wood – a product of Hampshire’s player pathway setup – has not let the disappointment of Finals Day take away from what was a successful showing in the Vitality Blast for the Hawks.
A place at Edgbaston had seemed impossible after a poor start in the competition, until a miraculous turn-around saw Hampshire win their final six matches on the bounce, including a dramatic quarter-final against Nottingham at Trent Bridge.
Wood attributed the change in fortunes to a familiar name.
“It came about when Colin de Grandhomme arrived,” he explained. “He came in about five or six games in to the season and it was just his mentality towards T20 cricket.”
“How relaxed he was, how good he was in the changing room and how he got people to fight in the same direction – he brought us together and played a big part in our run.”
He was also full of praise for the younger players who made the step-up to the first team during the competition.
“I though they were exceptional,” Wood said. “It can be quite a hostile environment to come into a big crowd and in T20 there’s a lot of pressure on.”
“But I think they dealt with it really well, especially Scott [Currie], who I think ended up with about 17 wickets in just a handful of games.”
“Also, the likes of Tom Prest, who’s now doing well for England U19s in the World Cup, so hopefully he can bring it home.”
Although, surgery on his knee followed the conclusion of last season, Wood is now focused on recovery and determined be back for the start of the season.
“Winter training slow for me at the minute,” he said. “I’m just slowly starting to get back into things now.”
“I’m hoping start running in the next six weeks and that will coincide with us coming back to bowling.”
"So, I should be fully fit for the start of the year which is exciting and I’m looking forward to playing pain free again.”
You can watch Chris Wood and the rest of the Hampshire squad all season long with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.
2022 Vitality Blast individual match tickets are on exclusive priority sale to 2022 Hampshire Cricket Members.
2022 Members also receive access to an exclusive allocation of tickets for next summer’s otherwise sold-out Vitality IT20s at The Ageas Bowl with England facing both India and South Africa at the venue next summer, alongside a whole host of other exciting benefits.
Super Early Bird Vitality Blast Passports are now on sale and give you the chance to catch all seven Hampshire Hawks games at The Ageas Bowl for just £99! There are a limited number of passports available and they can be purchased at https://www.eticketing.co.uk/ageasbowl/EDP/Event/Index/1522
