Mark Wood Set to Miss Second Test as England Manage Pacer’s Return From Injury

England fast bowler Mark Wood is expected to sit out the second Ashes Test in Brisbane as team management prioritises his long-term fitness following a lengthy recovery from knee surgery.

Wood made his first competitive appearance in nearly nine months during the opening Test in Perth, having undergone surgery in March to repair medial ligament damage in his left knee. The match marked his first Test outing since August 2024, but England remain cautious with a bowler who, at his best, is regarded as the fastest in the world.

Now approaching his 36th birthday in January and still requiring significant strapping on his troublesome knee, Wood has repeatedly battled injury setbacks. Speaking to Fox Cricket during the Perth Test, he admitted he would “definitely not play five” matches in the series.

He had also been a pre-match doubt ahead of the first Test after reporting left hamstring tightness during the warm-up game at Lilac Hill. Although he proved his fitness in Perth’s practice sessions — even bowling a blistering 93mph/150kph bouncer that struck Cameron Green on the helmet grille — England remain wary of overworking him.

The swift, two-day defeat in Perth meant Wood bowled only 11 overs in total, returning figures of 0 for 44. He was absent from England’s first training session at Allan Border Field on Saturday, signalling the likelihood that he will be rested for Thursday’s pink-ball Test. Barring complications, he is expected to return for the third Test in Adelaide, beginning in 18 days.

Wood was England’s standout performer during the 2021–22 Ashes tour, taking 17 wickets at 26.64, including nine in the pink-ball Test at Hobart. However, with England 1–0 down in the current series, the management have opted for caution.

Josh Tongue is the leading candidate to replace Wood in Brisbane. The Worcestershire quick is set to feature in a two-day pink-ball match for the England Lions against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, alongside fellow squad members Matthew Potts and Jacob Bethell. While Potts is also being considered, Tongue’s extra pace, steep bounce and ability to produce unplayable deliveries have put him at the front of the queue.

Wood admitted feeling emotional after the eight-wicket defeat in Perth, even joking about hiring a camper van to drive across Australia to clear his head. Captain Ben Stokes expressed sympathy for his long-time teammate.

“He’s so passionate about what he does,” Stokes said on Saturday. “Some people take disappointment differently to others. We’ve reflected this week and now we’re focused on what we’ve got to do here in Brisbane.”

Stokes also clarified his controversial “has-beens” comment about former England players who criticised the team’s limited pre-series preparation. He acknowledged the wording was “completely wrong”.

“‘Has-beens’ is a horrible word,” Stokes said. “It was a slip of the tongue… I’m going to be one of those one day. Everyone knows that’s not at all what I meant.”