Mark Wood (Source: AFP)
In a shocking development for the ‘struggling’ England, their star pacer Mark Wood will miss the second Test of the ongoing Ashes series against Australia. Wood was a part of the English bowling attack in the first Ashes Test in Perth, making his comeback in international cricket after a long nine-month time span.
He has been struggling with continuous issues with his knee injury, since the surgery earlier this year. Besides that, the Perth Test was also the first Test appearance for Mark Wood since he appeared for the last time against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in August 2024.
Meanwhile, he has been ruled out of the second Test owing to the workload management as England are trying to be cautious and play safe in his case. The 35-year-old is likely to be replaced by the young pacer Josh Tongue in the upcoming Test in Brisbane.
Not an expected comeback for Wood in Perth Test
In the Perth Test, England faced an embarrassing defeat by a heavy margin of eight wickets, with the game ending in just two days. Wood bowled just 11 overs with no success in the Perth Test. His place in the playing XI was also doubtful ahead of the first Test, as a stiffness in his left hamstring was reported.
However, he proved his fitness in the nets at Perth Stadium, bowling with an amazing pace of around 150kph, including some bouncers to his teammate and star all-rounder Cameron Green.
Mark Wood's Test career started more than a decade ago when debuted in 2015, but his vulnerability to the injuries has let him play only 38 Tests. In 71 innings of these Tests, he has scalped 119 wickets, with three four-wicket hauls and five five-wicket hauls, being one of the successful bowlers for the Three Lions in this decade.
