Ashes 2025-26: Mark Wood doubtful for Adelaide Test after missing Pink-Ball match in Brisbane
England pacer Mark Wood has cast doubt on his availability for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, due to ongoing knee trouble. The England fast bowler said that he is more likely to be fit for the Melbourne or Sydney Tests.
New Delhi: After being ruled out of the second Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, England’s fast bowler Mark Wood remains doubtful for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, which will begin on December 17. Wood wore a brace on his left knee during the opening day of the second Test in Brisbane, and has cast doubt on his ability to recover from the injury in time for the Adelaide game.
"I think there’s a chance there for the third Test in Adelaide. More realistically, it’s probably Melbourne and then Sydney after that," Wood told Channel 7 on Thursday. There is a week's gap between the scheduled end of the second Test and the start of the third match in Adelaide Oval, but Wood said he must first get out of the brace and regain mobility.
Ahead of the Brisbane Test, the 35-year-old skipped England’s first training session on Saturday. He was the only one of the 13 players to miss the training in Queensland. His teammate Joe Root later said that he's still not aware of the specifics of Wood’s injury, but the pacer was doing everything possible to be available for the second Ashes Test.
"I don’t know the full ins and outs with Woody, but with him, he’ll do everything he can to be as ready as soon as possible. He is very professional in that regard," Root told England Cricket.
An injury-filled year for Wood
The opening Ashes Test was Wood’s first competitive match in close to nine months, after a knee surgery in March to address medial ligament damage. It was also the first Test cap for the pacer since August 2024, against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.
Wood made a comeback for England during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy but was ruled out midway through the tournament. The fast bowler walked off the field during England match against Afghanistan in Lahore after completing his spell due to injury.
The ECB later announced that Wood had been ruled out for four months following surgery for ligament damage to his left knee, due to which he missed the home Test series against India.