Kolkata : English pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out from remainder of 2024 due to an elbow injury which he sustained during Test Series against Sri Lant in 1st Test at Old Trafford.
Wood withdrew from the ongoing Sri Lanka series as a precaution, after suffering a right thigh strain while bowling during the first Test at Old Trafford.
However, he subsequently underwent what he had hoped was a routine elbow scan, after feeling discomfort in the joint, and admitted in an Instagram post that he had received some “pretty rubbish news”.
“During what I thought was routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I’ve got some bone stress in my right elbow,” Wood wrote.
As a result, he will miss England’s final six Tests of the year, three each against Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
He’ll aim to return to the side by January, keeping in mind the India series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The speedster earlier sustained an injury on his right elbow after complaining of stiffness during the Test series against the West Indies earlier this year.
The 34 years old Pacer will be monitored by ECB medical staff in view of returning back to the side next year quickly.
“Wood will continue to work closely with the ECB medical team on his management and rehabilitation,” the statement from the England board read.
“I work incredibly hard on my fitness, putting in extra work with coaches and physios, making this even more disappointing. However, I guess this is, ‘part of being a fast bowler’, like Stokesy (Ben Stokes) says. I will miss the rest of the year needing time to rest and build up, fully expecting to be back and firing in early 2025,” Wood wrote in a post on social media.
In absence of premier pacer like Mark Wood, other fast bowlers like Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, and replacement Olly Stone will look to take up key responsibilities to shape up the pace line up.
England are currently placed 5th in World Test Championship 2023-25 and will eye for final berth.
