Mark Wood ruled out of England summer, eyes T20 WC 2022 for comeback
England pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out for the remainder of the summer. Wood, who last played for 'The Three Lions' in March against West Indies in Antigua, is nursing an elbow injury.
The 32-year-old played for the Ashington club last weekend, which saw his injury flare up again. He will now undergo a second surgery and will look to regain fitness ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in October.
Speaking on Test Match Special, he said, "The road to recovery isn't going well. I am off again, for probably more surgery, on Sunday. I'm off again for probably more surgery on Saturday. Played a club game to see what it was like tested it out, so unfortunately it's not pulled up well. To be ready for the World Cup, I'm going to have to get that done. It is the same elbow, there is pain in the same spot."
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Wood further explained how his elbow felt after returning to cricket over the weekend for Ashington.
"I've been bowling for the last two or three weeks in the nets, top speed also off my full run-up. But it just seems to keep deteriorating. When I played that club game it was an indication in a match of how does it actually feel.
The next day… I can straighten my left arm fully, but my right arm is still sort of bent a little bit. Unfortunately, it's blocked at the back. There must be something going on there I must need fixed," Wood added.
The focus has always been the Twenty20 World Cup: Wood
Wood, who spearheaded England's attack against Australia in The Ashes last year, defended his decision to play for his home club on Sunday (July 17).
"The focus has always been the Twenty20 World Cup. I was desperate to just play any game, so it was nice to play for Ashington, my home club, and just play a match because I feel I've worked so hard over the last three months to get it right. I'm a bit sad and frustrated now, but what can I do? I've given it as good a shot as I could," the Durham player concluded.
Wood has played 23 Tests, 57 ODIs, and 19 T20Is for England.
