England’s pace bowler Mark Wood may face an extended absence due to injury, despite England’s strong performance in the Ashes. Captain Joe Root’s remarkable unbeaten century in Australia’s Gabba stadium propelled England to a commanding position on the first day of the second Test match.
Root’s unbeaten 135-run innings, supported by Zak Crawley’s 76 and Jofra Archer’s 32 not out, led England to a total of 325-9. Although Australia had some successful moments, the day belonged to Ben Stokes’ team.
However, concerns arose off the field regarding Wood’s knee injury. Initially ruled out for the second Test, Wood might also miss the upcoming match in Adelaide following his latest update on the injury.
Wood, who played in the first Test after a long absence due to an elbow issue, expressed uncertainty about his return before Christmas. He mentioned a potential comeback for the third Test in Adelaide but indicated a more realistic timeline for Melbourne or Sydney matches.
Former England captain Michael Atherton highlighted Wood’s significance as a key player in England’s pace-focused strategy for winning the Ashes. Wood’s absence led to Will Jacks replacing him, altering England’s bowling approach in Brisbane.
Despite Root’s standout performance, Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc shone with figures of 6-71. The Ashes action can be followed live on TNT Sports via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
For the latest Ashes updates, fans can subscribe to “The Cricket Drop” newsletter.
