Luke Wood's century against Sussex is the 'most remarkable' Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell has ever seen in first-class cricket.

Academy graduate Wood, 19, scored 100 from 95 balls at number nine as Notts recovered from 55 for six to 255 all out.

Wood, from Worksop, then took two wickets to help restrict Sussex to 39 for three at the close of day one.

He is a highly rated bowling prospect but he has never scored more than 26 in the first team.

Newell admits he did not see Wood's exploits coming before he hit ten fours and six sixes at Trent Bridge.

"In first-class cricket it's the most remarkable hundred I've ever seen. For a kid who got a pair in the last match and when he first went in looked like getting out every ball, to hit it as cleanly as that is remarkable," Newell said.

Wood, who played in the Notts Premier League for Cuckney before moving to Trent Bridge, admits he never expected to get anywhere near a century.

In fact, the England under-19 international's father decided not to go to watch because Notts were batting and the weather forecast was poor.

He added: "It's probably the best feeling I've ever had on a cricket field.

"I wouldn't have thought I'd be anywhere near getting that. It's been pretty phenomenal how it has turned out and to get two wickets at the end has topped it off nicely.

"Until I got to the mid-80s I didn't really think I could get there.

"I work hard with the bat but I've not done anything like that before."

Newell meanwhile was pleased for Will Gidman as well as he scored 57, his highest score since joining in the winter.

"We had a chat at lunch to pick ourselves up as a team. We were in danger of feeling sorry for ourselves," he said.

"Will and Luke went out positively. I'm pleased for Will. He wants the respect of the players. I think he craves that."

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