The England cricket team has suffered a significant blow ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan, with fast bowler Mark Wood sidelined with a serious elbow injury.
The injury is expected to sideline him for the rest of the year. Mark Wood, known for his blistering pace and vital role in England’s bowling attack, will not be available for England’s much-anticipated Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand after his medical revealed a “stress injury to his right elbow”.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that Wood’s injury will require an extended period of rest and rehabilitation and has ruled him out of all cricket activities until next year. The timing of Wood’s injury is a big setback for England as they prepare to face Pakistan in a crucial series. His absence leaves a sizable void in the bowling line-up and the team will have to find a suitable replacement to fill his shoes.
Despite the setback, the ECB remains optimistic that Mark Wood will recover in time for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. The board have expressed confidence in his rehabilitation process and expect him to be fully fit and ready to contribute to England’s campaign at the tournament. Wood missed the last two matches of the summer due to a thigh injury sustained during the first match of the series against Sri Lanka.
But he was already dealing with stiffness and discomfort in his arm, a problem that first surfaced in the three-match series against the West Indies in July. The 34-year-old fast bowler has a history of an injury to the same elbow that required surgery in 2022. Despite the recurring problem, Wood hopes surgery won’t be necessary this time.
He is aiming to regain fitness in time for the white-ball tour of India in January and February, which will be England’s first under Brendan McCullum in the limited-overs format. He also hopes to be fit for the Champions Trophy, which is currently being held in Pakistan after the tour of India.
