England pacer Mark Wood will miss the upcoming Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand as he has been ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a bone-stress injury to his right elbow. England will travel to Pakistan and New Zealand to play three matches Test series with each team.
According to an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement, the 34-year-old "had experienced increasing stiffness and discomfort in his elbow" during the two-Test series against the West Indies. He also participated in the first Test against Sri Lanka, where he sustained a right thigh injury. The ECB noted that Wood is making good progress in his recovery from the thigh injury, which had initially sidelined him for the remainder of the summer.
In an Instagram post, Wood revealed that he had gone for what he thought was a routine elbow scan when the extent of the injury came to light.
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"During what I thought was routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I've got some bone stress in my right elbow," Wood said in his post. "After the minor groin injury at Emirates Old Trafford, me and the medical team felt it was a good time to get my elbow looked at as it was a bit irritated. I'd put that down to the normal niggles every fast bowler gets and which I was playing through.
"I'm especially surprised because I've been playing Test cricket and kept my speeds up," he said. "I work incredibly hard on my fitness, putting in extra work with coaches and physios making this even more disappointing. However, I guess this is, 'part of being a fast bowler', like Stokesy says."
Wood said he is confident of being back in action early next year. "I will miss the rest of the year needing time to rest and build up, fully expecting to be back and firing in early 2025. I have been down this path before and will put in all the hard yards behind the scenes. I am very proud to represent my country and there is no better feeling."
England vs Pakistan Test series
Pakistan who lost the Test series against Bangladesh will now host England for the three Test match series scheduled to take place in October. The first match will be played in Multan on 7 October. The second Test match will be played in Karachi from 15 to 19 October and the third and final Test will be played in Rawalpindi from 24 October. However, there are chances that the venue for these Test matches will be shifted because the venues are currently under maintenance because of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
England vs New Zealand Test series
New Zealand vs England 1st Test match will be take place on 28 November which will be played at Hagley Park South in Christchurch, New Zealand. The second Test match will take place at Basin Reserve on December 6 and the third Test match will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand
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