England's fast bowler, Mark Wood, will be out of action for the rest of the year after suffering a stress fracture in his right elbow. The 34-year-old was already unavailable for the final two Tests against Sri Lanka due to a thigh injury when a routine check on an old issue revealed the new elbow problem.
As a result, Wood will miss England's upcoming Test tours to Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December. According to a statement from England's team, Wood is aiming for a return at the Champions Trophy in February.
On Instagram, Wood expressed his determination to recover, stating that he's been down this road before and is ready to put in the hard work necessary to return. He also shared his pride in representing his country and looked forward to returning to top form in 2025.
Since making his comeback in the third Ashes Test against Australia earlier this summer, Wood has reestablished himself as a key part of England’s fast bowling lineup. His performances have been exceptional, with his pace reaching 97mph during the second-Test victory against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.
However, Wood's injury troubles resurfaced during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, where he limped off the field. Scans later revealed the stress fracture in his elbow, which had previously been operated on in 2022.
An England team statement confirmed the diagnosis, explaining that Wood had been experiencing increasing discomfort in his elbow during the West Indies series. Wood himself admitted the news came as a shock, especially given his ability to maintain his speed while playing Test cricket this summer.
He will now sit out the remainder of the year to recover, with hopes of returning at full strength by early 2025.
England's Test squad has seen significant changes this summer, particularly with the retirements of veteran bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Wood’s role is seen as crucial for the Ashes tour of 2025-26, where his high-speed bowling is expected to be a key asset on Australian pitches.
The pace attack has faced several setbacks, with Ollie Robinson dropped and injuries sidelining Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton, and Dillon Pennington. Brydon Carse is also just returning after serving a ban for historic gambling offences.
In Wood's absence, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, and Olly Stone have been part of the squad for the Sri Lanka series. England also handed a debut to 20-year-old left-arm seamer Josh Hull from Leicestershire for the final Test, highlighting their focus on building a new-look bowling unit for the future.