England suffer huge Ashes injury blow as bowler ruled out for the rest of the series – The Mirror
England have been handed another Ashes setback with Mark Wood not able to play any further part against Australia and Surrey’s Matthew Fisher drafted in as a replacement
06:31, 09 Dec 2025Updated 06:32, 09 Dec 2025
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Everything you need to know about Mark Wood’s injury as England pace bowler ruled out of Ashes series
England’s hopes of launching an Ashes fightback against Australia have been severely dampened by the loss of key fast bowler Mark Wood for the remainder of the series. The team are already trailing 2-0 in the five-Test contest, making his absence a significant blow to their chances.
Wood has been ruled out due to a recurrence of a left knee injury, which he first sustained during the first Test loss to Australia in Perth last month. The fast bowler had already missed the subsequent Second Test defeat at The Gabba due to this ongoing problem.
The 35-year-old Durham bowler will now return home to England immediately to begin a necessary rehabilitation and recovery program with the ECB medical team. This latest setback further fuels concerns about his long-term England future, as his career has been frequently disrupted by injuries.
Following Wood’s injury and departure, Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher has been called up to the touring squad ahead of the crucial third Test in Adelaide. Fisher, who is 28, was already in Australia playing with the England Lions team, simplifying his transition into the main squad.
Fisher’s Test career for England is currently very limited, consisting of just a single cap which he earned back in March 2022 during a tour of the West Indies. In that solitary Test appearance, he managed to secure one wicket in his 27 overs of bowling.
The new call-up has been involved in the warm-up matches for the second string, taking two wickets in three games for the Lions team this winter. However, his most recent performance saw him return figures of 0-105 from 31 overs in a heavy defeat against Australia A.
The third Test is scheduled to begin on December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. With the series on the line, a final selection decision for the fast bowling unit will be critical to England’s hopes.
Wood’s knee issue has plagued him for some time, as the Perth Test was notably his first competitive game since February, following earlier knee surgery. His history of injuries and his current age of 35 will inevitably lead to further discussion regarding his ability to consistently play at the highest level.
