England’s Mark Wood might face an extended period on the sidelines due to an injury, despite England’s strong performance in the Ashes. Joe Root’s outstanding unbeaten century propelled England to a commanding position at The Gabba during the second Test match.
Root’s masterful 135 not out led England to a total of 325-9, supported by valuable contributions from Zak Crawley (76) and Jofra Archer (32 not out). Although Australia had their moments, the day belonged to Ben Stokes’ team.
However, concerns arose off the field regarding Wood’s knee injury. Initially sidelined for the second Test, Wood’s availability for the upcoming Adelaide match is now in doubt after he provided a concerning update on his condition.
The 35-year-old paceman, who bowled 11 wicketless overs in Perth, expressed uncertainty about his return, hinting that he might not be ready until the Melbourne or Sydney Tests. Wood, plagued by injuries throughout his career, last played a Test match 15 months ago due to an elbow issue.
Former England captain Michael Atherton highlighted Wood’s importance, emphasizing the team’s reliance on his pace to secure victory in The Ashes. Wood’s absence led to spin-bowling allrounder Will Jacks filling the void in the team lineup for the Brisbane Test.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc shone with the pink ball, claiming impressive figures of 6-71 in response to Root’s stellar performance. The Ashes action, starting on November 21, can be watched live on TNT Sports via discovery+ or Prime Video.
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