Mark Wood is set to miss England’s marquee Test series against India after undergoing knee surgery, but will hope to be back for their bid to regain the Ashes in Australia.
The 35-year-old Durham paceman has endured a long list of fitness problems over the course of his career and sustained his latest setback during last month’s miserable Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan.
Freshly back on duty after a long lay-off with a stress injury in his elbow, he pulled up sore during his side’s defeat to Afghanistan.
He returned to the field after treatment to bowl another spell despite being in visible discomfort, raising concerns that he had aggravated an issue that the England and Wales Cricket Board says has been present for “over a year”.
A specialist consultation, followed by the eighth operation of his career, has now shown ligament damage in his left knee serious enough to put him back on the shelf for a minimum of four months.
He’s targeting a return by the end of July, but with the final game of England’s five-match series against India starting at The Oval on July 31, he stands hardly any chance of being involved.
“I’m gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year,” said Wood on social media.
Mark Wood celebrates dismissing Travis Head. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
“I’ve got every confidence that I’ll be back firing on all cylinders now that I’ve been able to sort my knee out.”
Wood’s ability to hit express speeds mark him out as an irreplaceable asset in a year that England will be fighting on multiple fronts – particularly, regaining the Ashes in Australia.
Fans have long craved seeing Wood and Jofra Archer in tandem in the red-ball arena but the pair have managed only one Test together, against West Indies in 2020.
Hopes are high for Nottinghamshire’s Josh Tongue, another on the comeback trail after missing the entirety of last summer, while Leicestershire’s Josh Hull is also back in action after a quad complaint curtailed his winter.
© AAP
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
The Australian cricket selectors clearly have not heard of the old adage of you don't weaken one position to strengthen another if they are…
The Pakistan Super League has followed the Indian Premier League in postponing its remaining fixtures as military hostilities continue to escalate between Pakistan and…
Marnus Labuschagne is set to switch to opening the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja for June's World Test Championship final against South Africa.…
South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to face Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord's next month.…
Usman Khawaja has taken to social media to celebrate not only the Coalition's crushing election defeat, but also opposition leader Peter Dutton losing his own seat.
Cooped up at home at the moment, watching more Indian Premier League than normal, I’ve been thinking for a while that this campaign seemed…
