Wood Sidelined from Bowling on Day Four Against Sri Lanka Due to Injury.

Posted 1 months ago

England fast bowler Mark Wood has injured his right thigh and will be unable to play on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Wood, 34, left the field immediately after pulling up just two balls into his 11th over during Sri Lanka's second innings on day three at Emirates Old Trafford.

England is in a strong position to secure victory on Saturday, with Sri Lanka starting the day at 204-6, leading by only 82 runs.

If Wood is unable to play in the second Test at Lord's, which begins on Thursday, Olly Stone may make his first Test appearance in three years.

Wood has been in exceptional form this summer, consistently bowling at high speeds in three Tests against the West Indies and the first match of this series. Since his return to the Test side during last summer's Ashes, he has become a key member of England's first-choice XI.

Along with Joe Root and Harry Brook, Wood was one of only three players to receive a three-year central contract last year, underlining his importance to England's plans, particularly for the 2025-26 tour of Australia.

England's fast-bowling lineup has seen significant changes recently, with Stuart Broad and James Anderson retiring and Ollie Robinson being dropped.