After fielding for 139 overs, witnessing Essex compile 509 (Graham Gooch 101, Paul Grayson 129, Stuart Law 144), Wood opened the batting with Nick Speak and was caught behind for 1 off Ashley Cowan.
The following month he recorded his maiden first-class half century against Middlesex at Uxbridge, scoring 67 against a bowling attack which included Angus Fraser, Jacques Kallis, Phil Tufnell and Richard Johnson.
Wood faced virtually every ball of a hostile 16 over bowling spell from South African fast bowler Allan Donald, setting up Lancashire's successful run chase of 91 with only three wickets intact.
Wood was the top scorer against Surrey in the 1998 County Championship match at Old Trafford guiding Lancashire to victory with 80 not out in the 2nd innings, during which Andrew Flintoff smashed 34 in one over off Alex Tudor.
He recorded one further first-class half century (82 v Leicestershire at Grace Road), against a strong international seam attack consisting of Michael Kasprowicz, Alan Mullally and Chris Lewis.
[3] He could perhaps consider himself unlucky for not playing more, but such was the strength of the Lancashire batting line up at that time it boasted several international batsmen including Mike Atherton, John Crawley, Sourav Ganguly, Neil Fairbrother, Wasim Akram and Andrew Flintoff amongst others.
[9] In September 2001, Wood made a single List A appearance for the county against Cornwall in the 2nd round of the 2002 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy which was held in 2001 to avoid fixture congestion the following season.