Right-arm speedster Mark Woodis set to miss the second Test of the ongoing Ashes. Wood, who had returned to Test cricket after more than a year, bowled only 11 overs during the series-opening clash in Perth, which Australia won to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The team management is understood to preserve Wood for the remainder of the series. This comes after he represented England in any format for the first time since recovering from his knee surgery in March. He made an appearance during
a tour match prior to the commencement of the 2025-26 Ashes.
Wood, who turns 36 in January next year, has had recent troubles with his left knee, which has required constant heavy strapping. Wood will most definitely return for the third Test. In his absence, Josh Tongue is the most probable to make his way into the team for the upcoming pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
Wood, who conceded 44 runs while going wicketless in the first Test in Perth, had earlier sais that he was definitely not going to appear in all five matches of the series.
English Test skipper Ben Stokes mentioned how disappointed Wood was after England's loss in the first match. He also pointed that England have been reflecting on the points they could improve and will aim to come back stronger in Brisbane.
"He's so passionate about what he does, some people take disappointment different to others. I've known Woody for a long time, we're good mates, not just because we play cricket together. He's just as disappointed as anyone else in the dressing room, we've reflected this week, we've done all that and now we're focused on what we've got to do here in Brisbane," stated Stokes, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
The second Test of the series will be a pink-ball Test. The match is scheduled to commence on December 4. The Three Lions, who have not won a single Test match in Australia since the 2010-11 Ashes, will be keen to put a much better showing to level the series.
