England pacer Mark Wood ruled out of Ashes series, Fisher named replacement

Brisbane, Dec 9 – The ECB confirmed that England pace bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of the Ashes after a flare‑up of the left‑knee injury he picked up in the opening Test in Perth. He will head home to focus on rehabilitation and recovery.

Wood returned to first‑class cricket after nine months out following knee surgery before the first Test, bowling eight overs before feeling tightness in his left hamstring. Scans later cleared him of serious damage, though his figures were 0‑44 from 11 overs. The 35‑year‑old was then sent to a specialist for knee pain and was ruled out of the second Test in Brisbane.

“England and Durham seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes tour of Australia, following a recurrence of the left‑knee injury he sustained during the first Test in Perth earlier this month.
“Wood will return home later this week and work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery,” ECB said in a statement.

England have drafted Matthew Fisher into the squad. The seamer, who has been touring with the Lions, will join the group this week. Fisher has a single Test cap for England, taken in the West Indies in March 2022 when he finished with 1‑21 from 27 overs. In the Lions’ winter series he has claimed two wickets in three matches, including an lbw to Zak Crawley when England’s second string faced the senior side at Lilac Hill.

This setback adds another chapter to Wood’s career, which has repeatedly been hampered by fitness problems. Before the Perth Test he had been out of England’s red‑ball side for 15 months due to an elbow injury followed by knee surgery.

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