Mark Wood ruled out of cricket for four months

England right-arm pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out for four months after undergoing surgery on his left knee, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Thursday.

Wood, who has been managing knee issues for over a year, underwent surgery on Wednesday after scans revealed medial ligament damage to his left knee. The injury caused increased stiffness and discomfort during England’s ICC Champions Trophy group-stage match against Afghanistan in Lahore earlier this month, forcing Wood to leave the field after completing his spell.

The recovery process will keep Wood out of competitive cricket for the next four months, meaning he will miss the five-match Test series against India, which is scheduled to begin at Headingley on June 20. However, the 35-year-old pacer is expected to be available for the Ashes series, set to start on November 21 in Perth.

Wood expressed his disappointment about the lengthy break but remains determined to return to peak form. 

"I'm gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year," said Wood in a statement released on Thursday. 

"But I've got every confidence that I'll be back firing on all cylinders now that I've been able to sort my knee out," he added. 

He went on to thank those supporting him during the recovery process, saying, "I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, the staff, my England teammates, and coaches for their support – and, of course, our fans. I can't wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team."

This marks Wood’s eighth surgery during his international career, which began in 2015. Despite the setback, he is hopeful for a strong recovery and a return to action later in the year.