Why is Mark Wood Disappointed with His Ashes Exit?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mark Wood has been ruled out of the Ashes series due to a knee injury.
- He expressed disappointment after arriving with high expectations.
- Wood will work with the ECB medical team for recovery.
- Matthew Fisher has been called up as his replacement.
- This injury adds to Wood's history of fitness challenges.
New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) England fast bowler Mark Wood has voiced his disappointment after being sidelined from the Ashes series due to a knee injury sustained during the first Test in Perth. He mentioned that he arrived at the series with high hopes of making a significant contribution, but unfortunately, his knee “just hasn’t held up”.
England Cricket has confirmed that Wood will head back home to collaborate closely with the ECB medical team for his rehabilitation and recovery. Matthew Fisher has been added to the squad, having been in Australia with the English Lions.
Wood has faced ongoing issues with his left knee, which first flared up earlier this year during the ICC Champions Trophy. After undergoing surgery and returning following a nine-month absence, he reported knee pain during the series opener and could only bowl 11 overs. Consequently, he missed the second Test in Brisbane as England fell behind 2-0 in the five-Test series.
“I’m devastated to miss the rest of the Ashes. After significant surgery and seven grueling months of rehabilitation to return to Test cricket, my knee simply hasn’t been resilient enough,” Wood shared in an Instagram post.
“None of us anticipated this outcome. I came here filled with high expectations to make a major impact. I’m deeply disappointed that, despite receiving more injections and intensive treatment, the flare-up in my knee has proven to be more severe than anticipated.
“I sincerely apologize that I’m unable to perform as expected, but I assure you, it’s not for lack of effort. I want to express my gratitude to everyone back home and in Australia. The Barmy Army has been exceptional as always, and I truly appreciate their support.
“Regardless of the situation, I will keep pushing my limits to return. The past few months have been challenging, but I remain determined to make another serious attempt. I still believe we can turn the situation around. Never give up. Come on England,” he added.
For Wood, this setback adds to a career that has frequently been hampered by injuries. Prior to the Perth Test, he hadn’t participated in red-ball cricket for England in 15 months due to an elbow injury followed by knee surgery.