First England pacer Mark Wood was forced to withdraw from the current Ashes tour. Her absence is explained as a long-term knee injury. His exit closes the book on another chapter in a career that has been largely shaped by maladies. Wood’s absence will be felt as he was a vital member of the squad, having previously contributed to England’s historic victories in major tournaments.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says that Matthew Fisher will take Wood’s place in the squad. Fisher, one of the bright young local stars, will now get his chance to shine during the high-stakes series against Australia.
Wood’s career, lauded for its zeniths, has been indexed by devastation. He was an integral part of the team that won the Ashes in 2015. This victory is indelibly stamped in the minds of England cricket fans. He played a key role in England’s T20 World Cup victory last year. In 2019, he raised the 50-over World Cup. None of that has made Wood’s journey less difficult. After an eight-month lay-off to recover from knee surgery, he made his long-awaited return in the first Test at Perth Stadium.
During his short comeback, Wood sent down 11 wicketless overs. He encountered more misfortune and was unable to play the second Test as he continued to struggle with his troublesome knee. Further Reading Over his short career, Wood has taken 119 wickets in just 38 Test matches since his debut in 2015. His speed on the field has made him one of England’s fastest bowlers, contributing significantly to the team’s bowling attack.
In an Instagram post that was, by turns, emotional and furious, Wood aired out his grievances. As a result, he will miss the rest of the Ashes tour.
“Gutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes.” – Mark Wood
He further opened up about his injury woes and the fire in him to get back to being the player he once was.
“Whatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again.” – Mark Wood
Andrew McDonald, head coach of the Australian team, said he felt for Wood after she said,
“I’m really sorry that has left me unable to perform as expected but it is not for want of trying.” – Andrew McDonald
As Wood looks ahead to returning home this weekend, his international future questions hang heaviest over him. The bowler has faced numerous injury challenges throughout his career, and this latest setback raises concerns about his ability to compete at the highest level in upcoming matches.
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