England off the pace as Wood out of Ashes

ENGLAND’S hopes of launching an Ashes comeback in Adelaide have been hit by a series-ending injury to pace bowler Mark Wood.

- RORY DOLLARD

Wood, one of the fastest bowlers the country has ever 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 offers a much more traditional brand of English seam fare than Wood’s bone-juddering speed.

The 35-year-old has been plagued by a variety of fitness problems throughout his career and underwent left knee surgery in March in a bid to get him fit and firing for the trip Down Under.

His return to action was shifted back a handful of times in the English summer and he was selected for the first Test despite feeling a twinge in his hamstring in the warm-up match against the Lions.