England have been forced into a major change to their Ashes squad after fast bowler Mark Wood was ruled out of the remainder of the series and replaced by Matthew Fisher. The 35 year old managed only one appearance, in the opening Test in Perth, after returning from eight months out following knee surgery, but swelling in the same left knee has ended his tour prematurely.
Wood, who will return home this weekend, expressed his frustration in a post on Instagram. “Gutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes,” he wrote. “After extensive surgery and months of work and rehab to get back into the Test arena, my knee just has not held up. None of us expected this. I came here with high expectations about making a big impact.”
He added that further injections and intensive treatment had failed to resolve the issue. “It has become clear that the flare up in my knee is worse than feared. I am really sorry that has left me unable to perform as expected but it is not for want of trying.” Despite the setback, Wood insisted he will aim to return once again. “Whatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again. I remain determined to give it another proper go. I still believe we can turn things around. Never give in. Come on England.”
The news is a significant blow for England, who trail 2–0 and lose one of their quickest and most experienced seamers. Wood has taken 119 wickets in 38 Tests since 2015 and was part of England’s Ashes success in 2015 and World Cup victories in 2019 and 2022. His career has long been interrupted by injury and his brief appearance in Perth marked the end of a 15 month absence from Test cricket.
Fisher, 28, steps in from the England Lions squad. The Surrey seamer, who earned his only Test cap in the West Indies in 2022, is considered well suited to bowling with the Kookaburra ball used in Australia. He was preferred to Josh Hull, while Lions bowlers Sonny Baker and Tom Lawes were unavailable because of injury.
Australia have injury issues of their own. Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the series after an Achilles tendon setback that followed a hamstring problem which kept him out of the first two Tests. Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that captain Pat Cummins is set to return when the squad for the third Test in Adelaide is named on Wednesday. Off spinner Nathan Lyon is also likely to come back after being omitted for the day night Test in Brisbane.
McDonald said Australia may also recall Usman Khawaja, who struggled with a back injury in the first Test and missed the second. The head coach indicated that Khawaja could return at number five, which would keep the new opening partnership of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald intact.
