England's Pace Attack Hit by Wood Injury Scare
England's plans for the second Ashes Test have been thrown into disarray after fast bowler Mark Wood emerged as a major injury doubt. The 35-year-old quick is struggling with soreness in his left knee that plagued him during and after England's two-day defeat in Perth.
Recurring Knee Issue Causes Fresh Concerns
Despite his intimidating pace, which saw him register speeds of 94mph and strike Australian batsman Cameron Green on the helmet, Wood managed only 11 overs in the match and failed to take a wicket. The troublesome knee, which required surgery in March and ended his home summer prematurely, is causing discomfort once again.
The injury ruled him out of England's training session at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, compounding concerns after he also suffered tightness in his left hamstring during the warm-up match against the Lions at Lilac Hill. These recurring problems highlight the physical toll exacted by Wood's express pace bowling.
Selection Dilemma and Potential Adelaide Return
If Wood is unavailable for the pink-ball Test at the Gabba starting on Thursday, England face a significant selection decision. The team management might reconsider their strategy of fielding as many as five seamers and instead keep Wood fresh for the third Test in Adelaide.
This approach would capitalise on Wood's extreme pace being particularly useful on what is traditionally the flattest pitch in Australia. Such a move would open the door for a spinner to feature in Brisbane, with Will Jacks's greater all-round ability potentially giving him the edge over Shoaib Bashir.
The injury scare comes at a challenging time for Wood, who turns 36 two days after the series concludes on January 11. His recent ECB central contract was reduced to just one year, having previously enjoyed a three-year deal, reflecting concerns about his long-term fitness.
Stokes Clarifies 'Has-Beens' Comment
Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes has moved to clarify his description of former England players who criticised the team's Ashes preparations as 'has-beens'. Stokes admitted this was a 'slip of the tongue' and described the term as a 'horrible word'.
He explained: 'I got the words I said there completely wrong. I think everyone knows that. It's the only thing that managed to come out of my mouth in that moment. God, I'm going to be one of those one day. It's a complete wrong wording, and I think everyone does know that it's not at all what I meant by that.'
