Join our cricket correspondent Chris Stocks for Ashes Dispatch, the free newsletter bringing you expert analysis, match updates, and exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from the tour. You can sign up here.
LILAC HILL — Mark Wood’s Ashes fate is hanging in the balance after the key fast bowler sustained a hamstring issue on the opening day of England’s sole warm-up match against the Lions here in Perth.
In his first competitive match for nine months, Wood departed midway through the opening day at Lilac Hill after bowling two wicketless four-over spells across the first two sessions against England’s second string.
How serious is this?
An official team statement confirmed the 35-year-old felt “some stiffness” in his left hamstring and he will undergo a “precautionary scan” on Friday. Rather optimistically, the statement added: “He is expected to bowl again in two days’ time.”
Given his age and the fact his return from knee surgery last March was repeatedly put back last summer, it is not unfair to question whether Wood will bowl again on this tour.
Wood bowled two spells without success before coming off (Photo: Getty)The most optimistic take is that he is a serious doubt for the first Ashes Test that starts here in Perth in just eight days’ time.
A more realistic reading would be that Wood, whose last Test appearance came in August 2024, has close to zero chance of playing in Perth and, if the scan results show no damage to the hamstring, he might be a chance for the second Test in Brisbane early next month.
What does it mean for the first Test?
The news is a major setback for England, who had wanted to try and catch Australia cold in the opening Test by unleashing both Wood and Archer, their two quickest bowlers, on a fast, bouncy Perth pitch. Indeed, their selection for this warm-up match indicated that.
Wood is also undoubtedly the England bowler that Australia fear the most, with his entrance into the third Test at Headingley completely turning the 2023 Ashes and helping Ben Stokes’ team come back from 2-0 down to draw the series.
England XI for warm-up. Looks like probable Test team pic.twitter.com/TkQafvJNtv
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) November 13, 2025He was also England’s leading wicket-taker in Australia four years ago, with Wood taking a combined 31 wickets at 23.74 across the past two Ashes series.
Speaking to Australia’s Code Sports this week, Wood had said: “As long as I’m prepared in a way where my body’s in a good place to bowl fast, then I’ll feel that I can deliver.”
How did Ben Stokes do on his comeback?
There was better news for the tourists regarding Stokes on the opening day of this warm-up match, with England’s captain taking six wickets across 16 overs in his first bowl since late July.
Having reassured everyone who would listen ahead of this match that he was fully recovered from the torn shoulder muscle that had seen him miss the final Test of the summer against India, the 34-year-old was his team’s most penetrating bowler by some distance.
Given the conditions expected next week, it’s also worth noting that all six of Stokes’ wickets came from short balls.
And the other quicks?
England’s other pace options for Perth also came through unscathed, with Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson all bowling 10 overs or more.
England are playing their only warm-up game against their reserve Lions team (Photo: Getty)The only other issue was the illness that saw Brydon Carse left back at the team hotel. England are optimistic the Durham quick will be able to bowl over the final two days of this match.
How is England’s attack likely to now line up for the Ashes opener?
England made a bold statement with their selection here, picking four out-and-out quicks alongside Stokes and dropping spinner Shoaib Bashir.
It is likely that is also the plan for next week, too, for a match that is expected to be played in conditions that will offer little to slow bowlers, especially one as inexperienced as Bashir.
square CRICKET Watch out Aussies - I haven’t seen Ben Stokes this up for it in years
Read More
Given the phalanx of fast bowlers England have on this tour, Wood’s absence should not alter that plan, with Tongue the most likely beneficiary of his potential absence.
That would see a four-man pace unit of Atkinson, Carse, Archer and Tongue let loose on the Australians next week.
However, given how good Stokes is looking right now, England could reassess their options and pick just three frontline quicks to fit Bashir into their team.
Just having the spinner as an option in case the Perth pitch flattens out might be attractive and it’s worth noting that Bahir went through a whole Test against the West Indies at Lord’s last year without being asked to bowl.
What does this mean for their chances in the series?
For Australia, the fact their opponents have also now got an injury issue to deal with will make a refreshing change after weeks of speculation about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins and question marks about the durability of their ageing pace attack.
Your next read
square FOOTBALL On The RoadThe tiny English market town attracting Spanish football fans
square IMMIGRATION DispatchHow one of the world’s happiest countries turned on migrants
square MONEYAt 73, rent is £151 more than my housing benefit. The state pension covers the gap
square PROPERTY AND MORTGAGESSurge in holiday let owners attempting to avoid double council tax with loophole
Cummins will miss Perth as he recovers from a back injury and Josh Hazlewood is also a doubt with a hamstring issue of his own, but Wood missing this series would be an equally damaging blow to England’s hopes.
Would it mean they can’t win the series? Not necessarily, but it would mean their bowling resources are spread thinner than they would ideally want and leave them one more injury away from a major problem.
Hence then, the article about how england s attack could line up for first ashes test after mark wood injury was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( How England’s attack could line up for first Ashes Test after Mark Wood injury )
Also on site :
- PIN Stockholder Alert: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the Class Action Lawsuit Against Pinterest, Inc.
- The Strong Reaction Real-Life Doctors Have To The Pitt, According To Noah Wyle
- Sheena Easton, 66, Is Still a Stunning Redhead Several Years After Leaving the Chaos of Mega-Fame Behind