'After surgery and seven hard months of rehab, my knee just hasn't held up'

Speedster Wood's tour over in a flash

- RORY DOLLARD

MARK WOOD'S Ashes hopes are over because of injury in another blow to England's bid to salvage the series.

But he bowed out with a rallying cry: “I still believe we can turn things around. Never give in. Come on England”

Wood, one of the fastest bowlers the country has produced, has suffered fresh knee problems and will depart Australia, having got through just 11 wicketless overs in the first Test at Perth.

Surrey’s Matt Fisher, who made his only Test appearance in Barbados in 2022, has been drafted in from the England Lions as a replacement, but will offer a traditional brand of English seam rather than Wood's bone-juddering speed.

England trail 2-0 in the five-match series heading into the third Test, which starts in Adelaide on Tuesday night UK time.