England’s bid to salvage the Ashes series in Australia has been dealt a severe blow with the confirmation that fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out for the remainder of the tour due to a knee injury.
The 35-year-old paceman, who underwent surgery on his left knee in March, managed only 11 overs in the first Test in Perth before the issue resurfaced. Despite intensive rehabilitation and further medical treatment, including injections, the condition has not responded as hoped.
“After extensive surgery and seven long, hard months of work to get back, my knee just hasn’t held up,” Wood stated in a social media post. “I came here with high expectations about making a big impact. I’m desperately disappointed.”
His absence is a significant loss for the touring side, which trails 2-0 in the five-match series. Wood’s express pace was instrumental in England’s fightback during the drawn home Ashes in 2023, and his ability to change games with sheer speed will be sorely missed on Australian pitches.
In his place, Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher has been called into the main squad. The 28-year-old, who has one Test cap to his name from 2022, has been training with the England Lions shadow squad. He joins Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts as the backup pace options behind the established attack.
Wood’s international future is now under a cloud. With a contract running until September next year, this setback raises questions about whether his decade-long career, which includes Ashes, 50-over World Cup, and T20 World Cup triumphs, may be nearing its end.
The injury news is not confined to one camp. Australia has also lost a key fast bowler, with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the entire series with an achilles problem. In his and captain Pat Cummins’s absence from the first two Tests, Mitchell Starc has led the attack with 18 wickets.
Cummins is expected to return for the third Test in Adelaide, which begins on December 17. Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon is also set to be recalled after being rested for tactical reasons in Brisbane.
For England, regrouping during a short break on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the task of overturning the series deficit has just become considerably more difficult without one of their most potent weapons.