England’s fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of action for the next four months after scans and subsequent surgery confirmed severe ligament damage in his left knee. The setback is another blow for the injury-prone pacer, whose career has been frequently disrupted by fitness concerns.
Wood had been managing an ongoing knee issue for over a year but experienced worsening discomfort during England’s ICC Champions Trophy group-stage clash against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26. The pain intensified in his fourth over, yet he pushed through to bowl eight overs before eventually leaving the field.
The 35-year-old, known for regularly clocking speeds above 150 kph, will now undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the ECB medical team. This isn’t his first significant injury, having previously undergone surgery on the same knee in 2019. Additionally, he has dealt with multiple elbow surgeries, including two procedures in 2022 to address bone fragments and a trapped ligament.
Due to this latest operation, Mark Wood is set to miss the early part of the English summer but is aiming for a return by late July 2025. If his recovery goes as planned, he could be available for the latter stages of England’s five-Test series against India and the much-anticipated Ashes tour in Australia later that year.
Mark Wood Speaks Up On His Injury
“I’m gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. But I’ve got every confidence that I’ll be back firing on all cylinders now that I’ve been able to sort my knee out. I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support – and, of course, our fans. I can’t wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team,” Wood said, as quoted by ecb.co.uk.
Wood’s absence leaves a significant void in England’s pace attack. Since making his international debut in 2015, he has featured in 37 Tests, 70 ODIs, and 38 T20Is, claiming a total of 253 wickets. His sheer pace has made him a vital asset, particularly on Australian pitches, where he was England’s standout bowler during the 2021-22 Ashes series.
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The Durham speedster has previously opened up about his struggles with recurring injuries, admitting that they nearly forced him to step away from the game. After undergoing a third ankle operation between 2015 and 2016, Wood battled anxiety and even experienced a panic attack on a flight, contemplating whether to focus solely on white-ball cricket to prolong his career.
