Mark Wood, a right-arm speedster, is poised to miss the second Test of the ongoing Ashes. Wood, who had returned to Test cricket after more than a year away, bowled only 11 overs in the series opener in Perth, which Australia won to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The team management is expected to keep Mark Wood for the rest of the series.
This follows his first appearance for England in any format after recovering from knee surgery in March. He appeared in a tour match ahead to the start of the 2025-26 Ashes.
Wood, who turns 36 in January next year, has recently experienced problems with his left knee, necessitating frequent heavy strapping. Wood will definitely return for the third Test. In his absence, Josh Tongue is the most likely to join the team for the forthcoming pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
Wood, who gave 44 runs and went wicketless in the first Test in Perth, has already stated that he would not play all five matches in the series.
English Test skipper Ben Stokes mentioned how disappointed Wood was after England’s loss in the first match. He also pointed that England have been reflecting on the points they could improve and will aim to come back stronger in Brisbane.
“He’s so passionate about what he does, some people take disappointment different to others. I’ve known Woody for a long time, we’re good mates, not just because we play cricket together. He’s just as disappointed as anyone else in the dressing room, we’ve reflected this week, we’ve done all that and now we’re focused on what we’ve got to do here in Brisbane,” stated Stokes, as quoted by.
The second Test of the series will be a pink-ball Test. The match is scheduled to commence on December 4. The Three Lions, who have not won a single Test match in Australia since the 2010-11 Ashes, will be keen to put a much better showing to level the series.
India
