Doubts over Wood future
Injury keeps bowler out of tour
MARK WOOD is facing a fresh question mark over his international future after being ruled out of England’s tour of Bangladesh because of his troublesome left ankle.
Wood, who last played Test cricket in October 2015 and has already undergone two operations, joined Jimmy Anderson in pulling out of the tour, and is now a doubt for the five-Test series starting in India on November 9.
Medical staff are still trying to work out what causes Wood pain at the back of his ankle when he bowls, and do not want to risk further damage.
While Wood is understood to have been keen to make the trip, the ECB have erred on the side of caution after he felt discomfort during Durham’s County Championship match against Surrey earlier this month — a game for which Wood prepared by undergoing a cortisone injection.
The 26- year- old got through 172 overs in the summer after returning to Durham’s first team in early July, including four one- day internationals against Pakistan.
This latest injury blow means he will have played in only eight of England’s 23 Tests since his debut last summer by the time they leave Bangladesh for India on November 2.
‘He has the X-factor, so it’s a great shame for him,’ said Jos Buttler, who flew out to Dhaka yesterday as England’s stand-in one-day captain following Eoin Morgan’s decision to stay at home because of security concerns.
‘We all know what a talent he is and how frustrating injuries are. Fingers crossed he can get back as soon as possible.’
With Anderson withdrawing to allow more time for his right shoulder to recover from a stress fracture, England have added Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball to their Test squad and Steven Finn to the one-day party.
Wood, meanwhile, was one of 10 players to receive a Test contract from the ECB as part of a new