England Fast Bowler Set to Miss India Test Series but Aims for Ashes Return

Mark Wood will be out of action for four months after undergoing surgery on his left knee, ruling him out of England’s upcoming Test series against India while keeping him in contention for the Ashes later this year.

The 35-year-old had surgery in London on Wednesday after scans revealed medial ligament damage sustained during England’s Champions Trophy group-stage loss to Afghanistan in Lahore last month. Wood was forced to leave the field during his fourth over due to “locking” in his knee. Although he briefly returned, he was unable to complete his spell and eventually exited the match permanently. His left knee had been heavily strapped throughout the tournament, as it had been since early 2024.

With England’s five-Test series against India starting at Headingley on June 20, Wood’s recovery timeline makes his participation highly unlikely. A smooth rehabilitation process might allow him to return for the final Test at the Kia Oval on July 31, with a potential comeback match for Durham in the County Championship against Somerset on July 22. However, England’s medical staff remains confident he will be fully fit for the Ashes tour in Australia this winter.

“I’m gutted to be out for so long after playing for England across all formats since last year,” Wood said in a statement on Thursday. “But I’m confident I’ll be back stronger now that my knee has been sorted. I want to thank the medical team, my teammates, coaches, and fans for their support. I can’t wait to return and contribute to what will be a huge 2025 for us.”

This injury adds to a long list of setbacks Wood has endured since making his England debut in 2015. It marks his eighth career surgery and his second within eight months, following an elbow stress fracture last August that ruled him out for the remainder of 2024.

England will be closely monitoring their fast-bowling resources ahead of the Ashes. Brydon Carse’s promising winter was cut short by a left toe injury, while concerns persist over Jofra Archer’s return to Test cricket, given he has not played a first-class match since May 2021. Meanwhile, Josh Tongue only recently made his comeback for England Lions after a prolonged injury absence.

Wood remains a crucial figure in England’s Ashes plans, given his strong track record against Australia. He was England’s standout bowler during the 2021-22 Ashes, taking 17 wickets at 26.64 in a 4-0 series defeat, and followed that with 14 wickets at 20.21 in the drawn 2023 series after being drafted in with England trailing 2-0. He also made history with England’s fastest-ever ODI opening spell against Australia in the recent Champions Trophy.

Since taking charge, Brendon McCullum has relied heavily on Wood, selecting him for nine of his first 10 matches before injury struck. The ECB had already prevented Wood from entering the IPL auction to manage his workload for the India series and Ashes, and further restrictions on his playing schedule now seem inevitable.

Despite holding a central contract until October 2026, which includes white-ball commitments, it appears unlikely Wood will feature in England’s limited-overs matches for the rest of 2025.