England fast bowler Mark Wood will be sidelined for the rest of the year due to an injured right elbow, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the player announced on Friday. Wood, who sustained a right thigh injury during last month’s first test against Sri Lanka and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the series, discovered bone stress in his elbow during a medical check-up.
“I was shocked,” Wood wrote on Instagram. “I’d put that down to the normal niggles every fast bowler gets and which I was playing through. I’m especially surprised because I’ve been playing test cricket and kept my speeds up,” he added.
Wood, who has claimed 119 wickets in 37 test matches, will miss England’s upcoming test tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December, the ECB confirmed in a statement. “He aims to return to full fitness by early 2025, in time for England’s white-ball tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, scheduled to begin in February 2025,” the ECB added.
The 34-year-old Wood expressed that he has encountered similar situations before, hinting at a determined return. “See you for some rockets in 2025,” he wrote on Instagram. This setback is a significant blow for England’s bowling attack, especially considering the upcoming packed schedule. However, Wood’s determination to return to full fitness by early 2025 ensures that his absence will be temporary, and fans can anticipate his return with great excitement.
