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Wood withdraws from Ashes series due to knee setback
England fast bowler Mark Wood has been forced to leave the Ashes tour after his left knee failed to recover from surgery, dealing a major blow to the team's campaign. The 35-year-old will return home this weekend, with Matthew Fisher called up as his replacement.
Injury timeline and impact
Wood had only just returned to Test cricket in the first match in Perth, ending a 15-month absence caused by an elbow injury and subsequent knee surgery. After bowling 11 overs without taking a wicket, swelling in the same knee resurfaced, ruling him out of the second Test.
Despite initial optimism that he could feature in the remaining three matches, medical assessments confirmed the injury was more severe than anticipated. Wood expressed his frustration in an Instagram post, calling the setback "gutting" after months of rehabilitation.
Wood's career and England's challenge
Since debuting in 2015, Wood has taken 119 wickets in 38 Tests, establishing himself as one of England's fastest bowlers. His career highlights include winning the 2015 Ashes, the 2019 50-over World Cup, and the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, persistent injuries have disrupted his progress, with this latest setback casting doubt over his international future.
The loss of Wood is a significant blow for England, who trail 2-0 in the series. Fisher, a 28-year-old Surrey seamer with one Test cap, has been drafted in ahead of other contenders like Josh Hull, who were also unavailable due to injuries.
Australia's squad changes
England are not the only team facing injury concerns. Australia's Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out of the remainder of the series after aggravating an Achilles tendon issue. The 34-year-old had already missed the first two Tests with a hamstring problem.
However, Australia are set to welcome back captain Pat Cummins for the third Test in Adelaide, following his recovery from a back injury. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who sat out the day-night Test in Brisbane, is also likely to return. Seamers Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett are in contention to be dropped to accommodate the changes.
Batter Usman Khawaja could also make a comeback after struggling with a back injury in the first Test and missing the second. Coach Andrew McDonald suggested Khawaja might bat at number five, allowing Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to continue as openers.
Wood's determination to return
"Whatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again. It has been a tough road these past few months but I remain determined to give it another proper go."
Mark Wood
Despite the setback, Wood vowed to fight for another comeback, adding: "I still believe we can turn things around. Never give in. Come on England."
