Mark Wood ruled out for remainder of 2024 with elbow injury, targets England return in 2025
By Leon Imber
Published 06/09/2024 at 21:55 GMT+1
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England fast bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign after sustaining a "bone stress" elbow injury, which he played through during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford. England confirmed Wood will miss the winter Test tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December, with the aim of returning to action for England's tour of India in 2025.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Fast bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 after suffering a "bone stress injury", England Cricket have announced.
Wood played through the injury in England's first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in August, after suffering "stiffness and discomfort" in his elbow when England met West Indies in a Test series earlier in the summer.
The 34-year-old was absent for the rest of the series against Sri Lanka after suffering a thigh problem in the opening Test, and an England statement said the leg issue "is being managed" and he is "recovering well".
The fast bowler will miss England's winter Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand, taking place in October and December respectively.
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An England statement read: "Medical scans have confirmed that Wood has a bone stress injury of the right elbow. He had noticed increasing stiffness and discomfort in his elbow during the Test series against the West Indies earlier in the summer."
England Cricket added that Wood would target a return for his country's white-ball tour of India in 2025, which is live on discovery+, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, set to commence in February.
Wood wrote on Instagram: "During what I thought was routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I’ve got some bone stress in my right elbow.
"After the minor groin injury at Emirates Old Trafford, me and the medical team felt it was a good time to get my elbow looked at as it was a bit irritated. I’d put that down to the normal niggles every fast bowler gets and which I was playing through.
"I’m especially surprised because I’ve been playing Test cricket and kept my speeds up.
"I work incredibly hard on my fitness, putting in extra work with coaches and physios making this even more disappointing. However, I guess this is, “part of being a fast bowler”, like Stokesy (England captain, Ben Stokes) says.
"I will miss the rest of the year needing time to rest and build up, fully expecting to be back and firing in early 2025.
"I have been down this path before and will put in all the hard yards behind the scenes. I am very proud to represent my country and there is no better feeling."
Wood has been a stalwart for England after establishing himself as a key member of the squad with exceptional performances to lead his side's pace attack, including against West Indies in the summer when he hit a staggering 97mph in the second Test.
England opened their third Test against Sri Lanka with a strong 221-3 on Friday, with stand-in skipper Ollie Pope making 103 not out.
discovery+ is the home of every international series played in India, including England's tour in 2025
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