England fast bowler Mark Wood is poised to miss the vital second Ashes Test in Brisbane because of worries over his left knee. After surgery on the same left knee during England’s first-Test loss in Perth last week, Wood only made a nine-month comeback.
In the first two-day Ashes Test in 104 years, Australia defeated England in two days despite the 35-year-old bowling 11 overs. Wood was the only one of the thirteen players from Queensland who did not attend England’s first training session in Brisbane on Saturday morning at Allan Border Field.
The most likely contender to replace Wood in the England starting lineup for the second Test, a day-night game at the Gabba that begins on Thursday, is Josh Tongue.
Tongue is one of three England players sent to play for the England Lions against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra this weekend, along with batter Jacob Bethell and fellow seamer Matthew Potts.
A new injury setback for Wood would be devastating for both England and the Durham player. It might even make people wonder about his future abroad. Wood, one of the fastest bowlers who have ever represented England, has a mixed record of injuries. Prior to Perth, he had not participated in a Test match for fifteen months, initially due to an elbow issue and subsequently to surgery on his left knee.
In an Ashes warm-up match against England Lions, Wood made his on-field comeback before the first Test. He managed eight overs before experiencing discomfort in his left hamstring. He recorded match stats of 0-44 and was deemed fit to play in Perth after scans ruled out any hamstring issues.
Wood’s availability enabled England to carry out a long-standing strategy to attack Australia at a fast pace during this Ashes. On the first day of the series, England achieved their fastest collective day of bowling in Test cricket by fielding a five-man pace attack at Perth Stadium.
On the second day, however, England’s pace slowed down as Australia easily won their second innings by eight wickets.
