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ADELAIDE — As if England’s Ashes tour couldn’t get any worse, news surfaced on Wednesday afternoon local time that Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against Australia.
Wood, England’s fastest bowler, was always a worry even before the tour began given he missed the entire home summer with a left-knee injury that required surgery back in March.
He proved a worry, too, during the team’s sole warm-up match at Lilac Hill in Perth when sent for a precautionary scan on a hamstring issue he felt after bowling just eight overs. It was his first action in nine months.
The 35-year-old overcame that scare and was selected for the first Test in Perth, where despite not taking a wicket, his speed as part of a five-man pace attack helped rattle and roll Australia for 132 in their first innings.
That proved as good as it got for a player whose entire decade-long Test career has spanned just 38 matches thanks to countless injury setbacks. Given his age, Wood turns 36 next month, there must be serious doubts he will ever play Test cricket again. The same knee issue he had surgery on nine months ago rearing its head again is not a good sign.
Wood felt discomfort during and after the Perth Test and had pain-killing injections in a bid help to smooth his recovery.
Wood wore heavy strapping on his troublesome knee in Brisbane (Photo: PA)Despite being seen in a knee brace throughout his time in Brisbane, where England lost the second Test to go 2-0 down in the series, it was hoped he might return after next week’s third Test in Adelaide.
But an 85-word release from England announced the end of his tour, with the addition that Matthew Fisher has been added to squad from the Lions. As replacements go it’s like being given a Robin Reliant in place of a Ferrari.
To say Wood’s absence is a blow is a gross understatement. Back in 2023, when England last found themselves 2-0 down against Australia, his introduction for the third Test turned the series.
His first spell at Headingley, where he hit 97 miles per hour, during an innings where he took five for 34, blew Australia away.
England won that Test and drew the series 2-2.
Wood has often saved his most ferocious spells for Australia, with his career-best haul of six for 37 coming in the final Test of the 2021-22 series in Hobart. Despite England’s 4-0 series defeat, Wood took 17 wickets at 26.64 during the series.
With England 2-0 down again, his absence for the rest of this series has diminished even further hopes of a remarkable comeback across the final three Tests.
Overall, Wood’s record against Australia reads: 41 wickets at 29 across 12 Tests. Ironically, his worst Ashes series was his first in 2015, when his 10 wickets came at 39.
It’s the last one England won and given his latest setback, it looks unlikely he will make the 2027 home Ashes, when he will be 37.
Perth had been Wood’s first Test match in 15 months.
His heartfelt message on Instagram after news of his latest injury suggested he has the hunger to try and play for his country again.
www.instagram.com/mawood33/p/DSCDDm3j9Qg/?hl=enGiven the money potentially on offer in franchise cricket, nobody would blame Wood for walking away from international cricket when his England contract runs out at the end of September.
If this is to be the end of his international career, he will always be remembered fondly, especially for his battles with Australia and, of course, his role in England’s 2019 World Cup win on home soil.
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