Mark Wood’s England career looks to be over after he was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series with a recurrence of the knee problem he suffered during the first Test at Perth.
Wood described himself as ‘desperately disappointed’ on an Instagram post after it emerged that the left knee operated on in March had let him down again.
And though he vowed to ‘push the limits to get back again’, he turns 36 in January. Throw in his long history of fitness problems, and a return to the top level seems unlikely – especially if England, 2–0 down with three to play in Australia, opt for a fresh start in 2026.
Beside an Insta post picturing him bowling a bouncer, Wood joked: ‘This looks short…. Like my trip.’
He added: ‘Gutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes. After extensive surgery and seven long, hard months of work and rehab to get back into the Test arena, my knee just hasn’t held up.
‘None of us expected this. I came here with high expectations about making a big impact. I’m desperately disappointed that, despite yet more injections and intensive medical treatment, it has become clear that the flare-up in my knee is worse than feared.
Mark Wood (pictured at the Gabba before the second Test) described himself as ‘desperately disappointed’ after being ruled out
The paceman (pictured during the Perth Test) could only bowl 11 overs before his involvement in the series was cut short
If Wood’s international career really is over, he will leave with 119 wickets from 38 Tests
‘I’m really sorry that has left me unable to perform as expected but it is not for want of trying. I want to thank everyone at home and away in Australia. The Barmy Army have been class as always and I really appreciate it.
‘Whatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again. It has been a tough road these past few months but I remain determined to give it another proper go. I still believe we can turn things around. Never give in. Come on England.’
The news means Wood’s contribution to this series amounted to 11 wicketless overs during the eight-wicket defeat at Perth, where his personal highlight was hitting Cameron Green on the helmet as part of an intimidating first-innings performance by England’s quicks.
That was his first Test appearance since August 2024, and it may now be his last. Awarded a three-year central contract in October 2023 to ensure he would be fit for this series, he earned only a one-year deal in the latest iteration of contracts last month.
England’s desire to unleash him in Australia was worth the risk. In his previous Test here, at Hobart in early 2022, he had unsettled the home batsmen with second-innings figures of six for 37, and he was at the heart of the home Ashes comeback in 2023, when he picked up 14 wickets at 20.
If his international career really is over, this most popular of cricketers will leave with 119 wickets from 38 Tests, plus two World Cup winners’ medals – from the 50-over version in 2019 and the T20 edition three years later.
He has been replaced in the squad by Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher, who has been in Australia with England Lions.
Meanwhile, Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out of the rest of the series because of concerns over hamstring and Achilles tendon injuries.