Mark Wood to miss four months of cricket after knee surgery

England fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of all forms of cricket for the next four months, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Thursday (March 13). The fast bowler had suffered damage to the ligament on his left knee and needed surgery this week. That will will now keep him on the sidelines for an extended period of time.

Wood is now unlikely to be fit and ready for the five-match Test series against India at home in June-July.

The 35-year-old fast bowler had experienced increased stiffness and discomfort in his knee during the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26. During his fourth over in his first spell that day, Wood got his left knee attended to by the physio. He bowled only eight overs and ran gingerly between the wickets during the chase with England's qualification in the Champions Trophy on the line. ECB further revealed that Wood had been managing discomfort on his knee for the last one year.

Wood has been plagued with injuries since he debuted for England in 2015. He was ruled out for the last four months of 2024 due to an elbow injury but made his comeback in the recent tour of India, featuring in four T20Is and two ODIs. This is a further setback for England as fellow fast bowler Brydon Carse has also been sidelined with a toe injury following the group stage game against Australia. It subsequently ruled out the all-rounder from the upcoming Indian Premier League as well.