Huge blow for England as Mark Wood likely to be ruled out of 2nd Ashes Test against Australia
England pacer Mark Wood is reportedly set to miss the 2nd Test against Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 due to soreness in his left knee.
In a big blow for England, fast bowler Mark Wood is reportedly set to be ruled out of the 2nd Ashes Test against Australia at The Gaba in Brisbane due to soreness in his left knee. Wood made his long-awaited comeback in the recently concluded first Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against hosts Australia in Perth. It was his first appearance for England since the Champions Trophy in February this year.
As per a report in BBC, Wood has reported soreness in the left knee ahead of the 2nd Test against Australia and is unlikely to feature in the game. The pacer had undergone surgery on his left knee in March this year. Wood missed England's first training session in Brisbane on Friday.
The pacer stayed back at the team hotel while the rest of the squad took part in the option training session at The Gabba. While he still has four days to recover and prove his fitness for the 2nd Test, which gets underway on Thursday, December 04. In the first Test, which ended inside two days, Wood bowled 11 overs as England suffered a crushing 8-wicket defeat.
Travis Head slammed a stunning knock of 123 runs to power Australia to a thumping victory in the series opener in Perth. In pursuit of a tricky target of 205 runs, Head led Australia's run chase with his 83-ball 123, which was laced with 16 fours and four sixes. Head took the England bowlers to the cleaners, making the chase a lop-sided affair with his blistering knock.
Wood bowled only three overs during Australia's chase in their second innings and ended up conceding 23 runs while going wicketless. He was also on the receiving end of Head's onslaught during Head's terrific innings.
Who will replace Mark Wood for England?
If Wood fails to make the cut in the playing XI in the 2nd Test against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane, England are likely to bring in Josh Tongue to replace the pacer. The 2nd Test between Australia and England will be a day-night Test and Wood's pace and skills could have been useful for the visitors.
However, the visitors will now hope for Tongue to step up in the senior pacer's absence in the pink-ball Test match. England have not won a Test match against Australia at The Gabba since 1986 and will be hoping to end the drought this time around.