Mark Wood Cleared After Hamstring Scare As England Finalise Ashes Plans

Mark Wood Cleared After Hamstring Scare As England Finalise Ashes Plans

England can breathe again. Mark Wood, one of the country’s quickest and most electrifying fast bowlers, has been given the all-clear after a hamstring scare during the Ashes warm-up match in Perth. The veteran speedster had left the field on Thursday with tightness in his left hamstring—the same leg on which he underwent knee surgery earlier this year—raising immediate concern across the England camp.

But a Friday scan brought relief instead of bad news. Wood has been cleared to continue preparing for the first Ashes Test on 21 November at Optus Stadium, a venue expected to favour pace and bounce. While he will not feature in the final day of the tour game against the England Lions, the team confirmed he will “continue to train as planned” ahead of the series opener.

The timing couldn’t be better for England, especially after Australia suffered their own setback with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury. Wood, who hasn’t played a Test since August 2024 due to elbow and knee issues, remains central to England’s strategy to hit Australia with express pace alongside Jofra Archer.

England hinted at their tactical approach by selecting five fast bowlers—including Wood and Archer—and no frontline spinner in their warm-up XI. Now, with Wood cleared but still returning from long-term rehab, selectors must decide whether he features in the opening Test or continues building fitness through Lions fixtures running concurrently.

If he doesn’t play, England may turn to Josh Tongue as a like-for-like replacement, or reintroduce spin through Shoaib Bashir or Will Jacks.

In other squad news, young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lions’ tour with a leg injury and will return to the UK. Despite the setback, he is expected to be fit for Big Bash League action with Hobart Hurricanes next month.

With Wood fit again and Archer firing, England’s pace battery is nearly complete. And with the Ashes countdown officially on, the visitors will hope their speed merchants can unsettle Australia on what promises to be a fiery Perth surface.