England Pacer Mark Wood Out for Rest of 2024 Due to Injury
England fast bowler Mark Wood has ruled out of action for the remainder of 2024.
England cricket team has suffered a major blow as fast bowler Mark Wood is ruled out for the rest of 2024 due to an elbow injury. The pacer initially sustained the injury on his right elbow after experiencing stiffness during the Test series against the West Indies earlier this year.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed in a statement that scans have shown Wood is suffering from a “bone stress injury.” The fast bowler participated in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester but missed the second and third Tests.
The 34-year-old is set to miss England’s upcoming Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. The ECB stated that his goal is to regain fitness ahead of the India tour and the Champions Trophy next year. He will now remain under the supervision of the ECB medical team.
“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.
Who will replace Mark Wood?
In Wood’s absence, England still has a strong group of pacers. Gus Atkinson, who already has three five-wicket hauls, and Josh Hull, who debuted in the ongoing KIA Oval Test, are among the new talents in their fast bowling lineup.