Brisbane, Nov 29 (UNI) England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to miss the crucial second Ashes Test here because of concerns over his left knee.
Wood only returned from a nine-month absence following surgery on the same left knee in England’s first-Test defeat in Perth last week.
According to BBC sport, the 35-year-old bowled 11 overs in the match as England were beaten by Australia inside two days – the first two-day Ashes Test in 104 years.
Wood missed England’s first training session in Brisbane on Saturday morning, the only one of the 13 players in Queensland not to be present at Allan Border Field.
Josh Tongue would be the most likely candidate to take Wood’s place in the England XI for the second Test, a day-night match at the Gabba which starts on Thursday.
Tongue is one of three England players – alongside fellow seamer Matthew Potts and batter Jacob Bethell – who have been sent to play for England Lions against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra this weekend.
A further injury setback for Wood is a huge blow to the Durham man and England. It could even raise questions about his international future.
One of the fastest bowlers to ever play for England, Wood has a chequered injury history. Before Perth he had not played a Test for 15 months, firstly because of an elbow problem, then the surgery on his left knee.
When he made his on-field comeback prior to the first Test, against England Lions in an Ashes warm-up match, Wood managed eight overs before suffering tightness in his left hamstring.
Scans cleared him of any concern in the hamstring and he was passed fit to play in Perth, where he had match figures of 0-44.
Wood’s availability helped England execute a long-standing plan to unleash high pace on Australia in this Ashes.
By fielding a five-man pace attack at Perth Stadium, England recorded their fastest collective day of bowling in Test cricket on the opening day of the series.
But England’s speeds dropped on day two, as Australia raced to an eight-wicket victory in their second innings.
