Mark Wood to miss second Ashes Test due to knee soreness

England pace enforcer Mark Wood is set to be ruled out of the second Ashes Test after suffering knee soreness despite only bowling 11 overs in Perth.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 22: Mark Wood of England bowls during day two of the First 2025/26 Ashes Series Test Match between Australia and England at Perth Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

England is set to make a forced change for the second Test with paceman Mark Wood likely to be ruled out of the match with knee soreness.

Wood bowled just 11 overs in the first Test, going wicketless, but according to reports from English media he has pulled up sore following the match.

The issue relates to his left knee, the same one which led to him undergoing surgery and missing more than eight months of cricket.

Mark Wood is out of the Brisbane Test due to injury.

Josh Tongue is the most likely replacement for Wood.

Josh Tongue – who made his Test debut against Australia at Lord’s in 2023 – is the frontrunner to replace Wood for the pink-ball clash at the Gabba.

The rapid Wood, 35, conceded before the series in an interview with this masthead that England’s aggressive style of play meant he and his fellow quicks were not always afforded optimal rest between bowling.

This was taken to a new extreme in Perth when England batted for fewer than 68 overs across its two innings in what was an eight-wicket loss.

“Trying to get off that field as quick as we can with 10 wickets, and get the feet up, and then watch our batters, if the batters can give enough time, which isn’t, isn’t always the way that we play,” Wood said pre-series.

Originally published as Mark Wood to miss second Ashes Test due to knee soreness