Mark Wood, known for his pace in England's bowling lineup, faces a setback as he will be sidelined for the upcoming Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand due to a bone-stress injury affecting his right elbow. This injury was discovered following a precautionary withdrawal from the ongoing Sri Lanka series where he experienced a thigh strain during the first Test at Old Trafford.
Wood, who had hoped for a routine check-up on his elbow, received unexpected news of the bone stress, leading to his absence from the final six Tests of the year, split between Pakistan and New Zealand engagements.Working closely with the ECB medical team, Wood aims to regain full fitness by early 2025, setting his sights on England's tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
This setback comes at a time when Wood was showcasing some of his quickest bowling, reaching speeds of 97.1mph during the Trent Bridge Test against West Indies. Despite this, the injury forced him to exit the Sri Lanka series prematurely.Expressing surprise at the diagnosis, Wood revealed his dedication to fitness and the disappointment of being sidelined. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about his recovery and looks forward to returning with full vigor in 2025.
In his absence, Olly Stone made a comeback for the Lord's Test, with young talent Josh Hull debuting in the ongoing series at The Oval, showcasing the depth of England's fast bowling resources in Wood's absence.