Already 2-0 down heading into the third Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at Adelaide, England face a massive blow as their premier pacer, Mark Wood, has been ruled out of the remainder of the trip down under following a recurrence of the left-knee injury that he sustained during the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. 

Mark Wood, who was out of the entire home summer in 2025 against India for the five Tests and didn’t even feature in the one-day Trent Bridge Test match against Zimbabwe, was recovering to feel fit and fresh for the Ashes 2025/26 trip. But the 35-year-old admitted that age was catching up with him. 

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“Gutted to be out for the remainder of the Ashes. After extensive surgery and seven long, hard months of work and rehab to get back into the Test arena, my knee just hasn't held up. None of us expected this. I came here with high expectations about making a big impact. I'm desperately disappointed that despite yet more injections and intensive medical treatment.” Wood wrote on his Instagram post.

England star ruled out of Ashes 2025/26 as ECB names replacement

Matthew Fisher has been added to the squad as a replacement. His only Test so far came against the West Indies three years ago. The six-foot-two seamer is already part of the Australia series and will link with the senior side before the third fixture on December 17.

“I'm really sorry that it has left me unable to perform as expected, but it is not for want of trying. Whatever happens, I will continue to push the limits to get back again. It has been a tough road these past few months, but I remain determined to give it another proper go. I still believe we can turn things around. Never give in. Come on, England.” Wood added.

Fisher ended with one wicket in his 27 overs during the lone Test at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Overall, he has 175 wickets in 98 innings at an average of 28 for Yorkshire. England will have to win the third Test to stay alive in the series.

England pacer Mark Wood has been cleared of any hamstring injury, giving a huge relief to the team ahead of the Ashes opener against Australia in Perth next week. Wood experienced hamstring stiffness on the first day of the warm-up match against the England Lions and underwent scans on Friday, November 14. He bowled eight overs on his return to competitive cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the scans were precautionary after Wood felt some stiffness while running.

“Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,” the ECB said in a statement. Although the 35-year-old bowler is unlikely to play on Day 3 of the ongoing warm-up match against the Lions XI at Lilac Hill, the ECB confirmed that he will continue training as scheduled ahead of the first Test in Perth.

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England’s Preparation for Perth Test

“Wood will continue to train as planned ahead of the first Test in Perth,” the ECB said in the statement. If fit, Wood is likely to bowl alongside Jofra Archer, one of Brydon Carse or Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson in the first Ashes Test next week. Based on England’s warm-up match lineup, there is a high chance the team will use an all-pace attack, with some spin from Joe Root and pace from skipper Ben Stokes.

Mark Wood is available for the first Ashes Test after being cleared of any hamstring concerns, whilst Australia's Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Test with a hamstring injury 🚨 pic.twitter.com/o3v4XfsrlW

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 15, 2025

In the warm-up, Stokes took six wickets in the first innings, while former vice-captain Ollie Pope scored a century at No. 3, securing his place in the XI for the first Test.

Apart from the bowling choices, England do not have many decisions to make about their playing XI and will be looking to start the series with a win.

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan recently shared his tough experience facing Mark Wood’s fast bowling during Pakistan’s 2024 tour of England.

On a recent viral podcast, Azam spoke about the challenges Asian batters face on fast, bouncy English pitches. The moment happened during the fourth T20I at The Oval, when Pakistan was struggling at 84/4 after a promising start. Azam walked in to bat, not knowing that his short stay would become widely talked about.

Facing Wood’s first ball, a sharp bouncer, he confidently left it. Azam said he felt calm at first: "Mark Wood ne mujhe pehla bouncer mara. I left it. I was like, ha theek hain. Matlab sahi hain. Humare yaha bhi 150 wale bowler hain." (When Mark Wood bowled the first bouncer, I left it. I was like, “Alright, we have 150 kph bowlers in Pakistan too.”)

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The Second Delivery Changed Everything

The second ball from Mark Wood changed everything for Azam Khan. He described the shock of facing Wood’s fast bowling: "When he bowled me that second bouncer, I was like, woah, yeh matlab kya hua hain mere saath? Like meri zindagi na ekdum ruk gayi, bhai ye mere saath kya hua hain!!!" (When he bowled me that second bouncer, I thought, “What has happened to me? My life just paused for a second, and I wondered what had just happened.”)

The ball hit his glove, and at first, he and his partner Usman Khan thought he was safe. But the pain in his pinky finger told a different story. Realising the ball had nicked the glove, Azam chose not to review and began the long, painful walk back, made worse by the crowd’s abuse at The Oval.

🗣️ Azam Khan reflects on facing Mark Wood during the 4th T20I at The Oval in 2024#PakistanCricket

pic.twitter.com/jKdbIkxywz

— Usman (@jamilmusman_) November 9, 2025

Just a Bad Day

Looking back, Azam said it was one of the toughest days of his career. He dropped a couple of catches later, and his memory of crying on the ground with Shadab Khan consoling him still lingers.

It was a day when nothing went his way. Pakistan scored 157 runs, which England chased in 15.3 overs to win the series 2-0. But for Azam, the lessons from that day at The Oval were far more personal than any scoreline.

England pacer Mark Wood is poised to return to competitive matches with Durham in September through the County Championship. The fast bowler has been in the recovery phase because of a knee injury he received during the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. His possible stint with Durham comes as a part of his recovery ahead of the Ashes, scheduled to take place in Australia this winter.

In a recent podcast, Wood himself revealed that he tried to make an appearance during the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy but remained out of the ground due to a swollen knee.

"It was 50-50 whether I was going to make the India Test, but I was bowling at Lord's, and then, the next day, my knee swelled up again, so I had it drained, and since then, it's just been about taking things easy, looking ahead to the winter," he informed. But, now, he feels good. "The injury is all right."

England fast bowler Mark Wood is targeting a return to action with Durham in the County Championship in September ahead of the Ashes series this winter 👀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/nWi81eQXJi

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 27, 2025

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His return will benifit England 

Wood's return to competitive matches will be crucial for England, as they had to face multiple injury issues in the recent past. Another experienced pacer, Chris Woakes, is yet to recover from a shoulder injury that he received during a match against India. If Woakes is unable to get the match ready before The Ashes, then Wood could be their main man to lead the bowling side. On the Australian surfaces, a high-speed bowler can be very useful for the visiting side. And for England, Wood is the best in terms of speed.

Durham is set to play three County Championship matches in September: Essex (September 8), Worcestershire (September 15), and Yorkshire (September 24). "I'll try and play one or two of those," Wood said about his possible comeback. Mark Wood played his last Test match on August 21, 2024, against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford. 

The beautiful game of cricket has several intricacies, and fast bowling is one aspect that offers it sheer brilliance and sensation. Seeing a bowler at his mark, loading up with the ball as ammunition, striding ahead towards the crease, and delivering fast is an electrifying sight. Stepping up, setting the speed gun on fire, and hitting the top mark, visible as speed on the big screen, is an incredible moment in the game. As exciting as it can get, the chill of pace bowling is an immense source of adrenaline among the players and viewers. 

To master the skills of fast bowling, it takes a great amount of hard work, practice, rhythm, momentum, and innumerable accurate run-ups. To bowl the fastest ball in the match and for the history books is a beholding sight and requires immaculate strategies, strength, and consistency. To be counted as one of the fastest bowlers in the cricket world is a matter of humongous pride and an indication of pure greatness. 

Creating dread among the batters and overpowering them in the modern formats of the game is quite tough. Speed bowling is one tool, if employed and executed at its best, can bundle out the opposition in a jiffy. The protagonists of these are a rare species of players who possess the ball like venom and have set records for the same. Here is a look at the top ten fastest bowlers in the world who are currently in the game and actively plying their trade. 

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Mitchell Starc

The tall and lanky left-arm fast bowling sensation from Australia often takes the cricketing universe by storm because of his sensational pace. He is currently the fastest bowler in the world, having clocked an unimaginable speed of 99.7 miles per hour in a test match against New Zealand in 2015. His average speeds are in the high 140s kph, and his smooth action makes him look aesthetic while delivering balls. When he spearheads the bowling attack of any team, a fear is instilled among the batters, and this attribute has made him one of the highest wicket-takers for his nation, currently at 382 wickets in tests. His potent fitness while being a pacer is a testament to his focused approach towards meticulous practice, planning, and workload management. 

Haris Rauf

The skiddy bowler from Pakistan is a white ball specialist. He began his international career as a T20 player and soon got opportunities in the ODI circuit as well. He is tall, bangs the surface hard, and extracts extra bounce off the pitch. In a match against England in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup, Australia, he bowled at 99 miles per hour, sending rocket waves across the bowling fraternity. He is a regular player in his national side and has accumulated 206 wickets, so far, in limited-overs cricket. His average bowling speed nears 150 kmph on many occasions. 

Lockie Ferguson

The Kiwi bowler is a great customer of batters' wickets. His sheer pace, complemented by impeccable bounce, line, and length, makes it extremely tough to score against him. His rhythmic bowling action makes his task look effortless. He regularly plays in the IPL and is a great asset for any team. Once in the 2022 season, playing for the Gujarat Titans against the Rajasthan Royals, he produced a magical delivery worth 157.3 kmph and set the speed gun ablaze. For New Zealand, he has, so far, taken 163 wickets in white ball cricket.

Umran Malik

The speedster from Jammu and Kashmir was the talk of the town even before his debut in professional cricket. His raw pace, coupled with youthful energy, made him a fast bowling sensation. This put him in the category of a rare breed of pacers, an asset that could serve India and IPL cricket for years to come. In the 2022 IPL season, playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Delhi Capitals, he bowled a superfast delivery, measured at 157 kmph in the speed metrics. It became the second fastest ball in that season and earned him a place in the National side. He, however, has been very unfortunate with injuries and has missed out on a lot of game time over the years, hoping to return very soon and produce similar goods for which he became popular. 

Mayank Yadav

Mayank Yadav rose in the ranks while playing for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2024 season of IPL. His impressive performances from the time he got an opportunity made the cricket pundits and viewers talk about him quite a lot on social media. In a match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he clocked a top speed of 156.7 kmph and took everyone by surprise. Delivering that fast at a tender age and also scalping a few wickets made him a player to watch out for ahead. He, too, has lacked the rub of the green in his strides and has dealt with injuries very frequently. 

Mark Wood

The English quick is one of the fastest bowlers in the world and among only a few who possess the ability to turn the tide in his team's favour purely by fiery pace bowling. He sprints like an athlete and delivers fire. At times, his absence from the England team make their attack look bleak and without any venom. Of late, his improved fitness has made him play a lot more matches than he used to in the past, and that is good for the game itself. During the test tour of Pakistan in 2022, he bowled a ball at 156.6 kmph and became the fastest bowler in England's history. He has taken 255 wickets across formats for his nation yet. 

Anrich Nortje

The South African right-arm speedster has an average bowling speed of around 150 kmph. His bowling resonates with business, and so does his serious looks. Playing for the Delhi Capitals and bowling to Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler, he sent waves across the world by recording a gobsmacking speed of 156.22 kmph. The Protea pacer, however, has been less economical over the years and has gone for a few in his overs on numerous occasions. Injuries have pegged him back quite a lot. He currently bowls quick but needs to be smart enough in disguising the batters to sustain himself further in the game. 

Kagiso Rabada

Another bowler hailing from South Africa is an all-format player for the National side. Known for his consistency, Rabada has been a go-to bowler for whichever team he has played in, at all levels. He might lack express pace when compared to other bowlers in the list, but if coupled with the right line and lengths, it apparently seems quite threatening. In IPL 2019, he produced a delivery having a speed of 154.23 kmph. Kagiso has 327 test wickets to his name. 

Jofra Archer

The Caribbean-born pacer became eligible to play for England in 2019 and was fast-tracked into the National side just before the ODI World Cup scheduled in the same year. This news sent seismic waves across the cricket world, and Jofra Archer has been associated with sheer pace since his inception. His raw speed and unparalleled accuracy make it a nightmare for opposition batters, and time and again, he has displayed that. 2019 was a glorious year for him, and he made his name by performing impressively well in the World Cup and the Ashes. 

Mohammad Shami

The Indian pace bowler is known to have the best seam position of the ball. He makes the ball talk at his own will, seaming and swinging notoriously. Delivered at a great pace, it becomes extremely difficult for the batters to negotiate his overs and spells, especially in the longest format of the game. His action is flawless and equivalent to poetry in cricket. His skills affirm the fact that fast bowling is all about rhythm. For India, Shami has struck 462 times across the three formats. 

Some fresh air passing through the England camp ahead of the 5-match Test series against India. For the first match, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced their squad, and they can update their squad for the next games. Shuffle in the existing test setup depends on how the injured players are recovering.

As for now, the board has received a couple of pieces of good news. The latest one is about the speed star Mark Wood. The prime bowler of England suffered an injury during their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group stage match against Afghanistan, where they faced a shocking setback.

Luke Wright, England's national selector, informed us that Wood has started bowling lightly; he is in recovery season and yet to fully gain fitness. Wright and the board do not want to take any decision in a hurry, as they see the pacer as a long-term prospect. But there is some hope that Wood could mark his Test return during the fourth or fifth Test against India, though it's not official yet.

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"I think Woody's now started bowling just lightly, to be honest. He's just off a few paces, but that's been a great sign. So, he's on the road to recovery. I think he's more long-term; if we can get him back, he might have an option for the fourth or fifth test. But again, each day it's ticking off each box and making sure he's OK," Wright said on Sky Sports.

Jofra Archer set to hit the deck 

Another seamer, Jofra Archer, is currently out of the mix due to a thumb injury, and he is recovering as well. During the final stages of the IPL 2025, he got himself injured. Wright is again hopeful for a fine recovery, and to provide him the necessary match fitness, the bowler will participate in domestic contests. 

"Joff's trucking on really well, actually. The plans for him are that he's playing a few second-team games. The plan is for him to play a few second team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test. So, he'll play for Sussex if all things go well, and then, if all things go well, fingers crossed, he should be available for the second Test," Luke Wright said. 

The 35-year-old England fast bowler Mark Wood has been effectively ruled out from the upcoming key home summer Test series against India as he will miss the game for four months following an operation on his knee. 

During the Group B match against Afghanistan in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Mark Wood left the field during his fourth over after experiencing locking in his knee. Although he returned to the field after 38 minutes, he bowled four more overs as he had the bowling figures of 8-0-50-0. While England lost that match by eight runs to be eliminated from the tournament with one match yet to be played, the last batter Wood was not out for two runs in three balls.  

Wood missed out on England's last group stage game against South Africa. On Wednesday (March 12) morning, Wood underwent surgery in London after scans confirmed medial ligament damage. After the successful surgery, the English fast bowler will be out of the game for four months. 

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I can't wait to get back: Mark Wood

In a statement released, Wood said, "I'm gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support - and, of course, our fans. I can't wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team."

Wood and surgery isn't a new story as it was his eighth surgery. While the India tour of England for the five-match Test series will begin on June 20, Wood has very little chance to be part of the English team for any match of the series. The last Test of the series will begin on July 31, and Wood is unlikely to feature in the game, especially as he will hardly have a chance to prepare for it. 

Mark Wood will be essential for England in the away Ashes

Due to his furious speed, Wood is an important character in the English fast bowling line-up in any format. While he has the central contract, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has restricted him from joining the Indian Premier League 2025 edition to manage his workload. But the recent injury has forced him to miss out on important home Test series against India. The English team management will now hope to get him fit for the away Ashes in the 2025-26 edition.

England fast bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 due to a bone-stress injury in his right elbow. Wood was set to play pivotal roles in England's upcoming tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. However, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announcement confirmed that the 34-year-old will be sidelined for the rest of the year. This decision follows a series of injuries that have plagued his recent performances.

Injury diagnosis and impact on current season

The ECB revealed that Wood had experienced increasing stiffness and discomfort in his elbow during England’s two-match Test series against the West Indies. Wood also played in the first Test against Sri Lanka, where he sustained a right thigh injury. Although he is recovering well from the thigh issue, the bone-stress injury in his elbow is significant enough to end his year early.

In an Instagram post, Wood shared his shock upon learning the severity of his elbow condition. "I thought it was a routine check for a previously troublesome elbow," he wrote. "To discover bone stress in my right elbow was a surprise. After dealing with a minor groin injury and noticing irritation in my elbow, I decided to get it examined. I attributed the discomfort to the usual issues fast bowlers face."

Despite his disappointment, Wood remains optimistic about his recovery. He expressed confidence in returning to full fitness early next year, saying, "I will miss the rest of the year to rest and rebuild, but I fully expect to be back and firing in early 2025. I have been down this road before and will work hard to come back stronger."

England's adjustments and future tours

With Wood out, England will rely on other bowlers for their upcoming tours. Olly Stone took Wood’s place in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, while 20-year-old left-arm seamer Josh Hull made his debut in The Oval Test. England’s tours of Pakistan and New Zealand will proceed as planned, but Wood’s absence leaves a significant gap in the bowling attack.

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England’s tour of Pakistan in October includes three Tests, followed by a series in New Zealand in December. The team will need to adjust their strategy without Wood, who has been a key player in their bowling lineup.

Wood's injury is a setback for England, but his determination to return to top form offers hope for the future. As he takes time to recover, fans and teammates alike will eagerly anticipate his return to international cricket.

Star West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph caused a big scene at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Day 3 of the second Test against England. During the 107th over, Joseph took on England’s young fast bowler Gus Atkinson and hit two powerful shots that were crucial for his team.

Joseph first pulled a delivery from Atkinson over deep mid wicket for a six, then smashed another ball over deep backward square leg for another huge six. The second shot was so well timed that it sailed into the stands and hit the roof of one of the boxes, causing tiles to fall on the crowd below. Fortunately, no fans were injured.

Watch Shamar Joseph’s incredible six

Joseph scored a quick 33 off 27 balls, including five fours and two sixes. He partnered with Joshua Da Silva for the tenth wicket adding 71 runs off 78 balls. Their stand frustrated England as they easily scored against a tired bowling attack.

Their partnership ended just before lunch when Joseph hit a delivery from Mark Wood straight to Gus Atkinson at mid on. Da Silva was left not out on 82, missing a well deserved century as he walked back to the pavilion.

England claims early breakthroughs on day 3

West Indies started their innings at 351/5 with Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva. England struck early when Chris Woakes caught Holder’s edge and Jamie Smith took the catch. Kevin Sinclair followed but was out after scoring 4, caught by Harry Brook.

Woakes continued his good work by dismissing Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales with back-to-back deliveries. West Indies was all out for 457, taking a narrow lead of 41 runs.

On Friday, July 19, Mark Wood made a dramatic entrance into England’s Test team during the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

Wood, who wasn’t part of the squad for the first Test as he was given time to recover from the T20 World Cup, was finally brought into the team for this match. With James Anderson retiring, Wood was added straight into the playing XI. He made an impressive comeback, with every ball of his first over clocking well above 90 mph.

Woakes and Atkinson started the bowling for England, covering the first nine overs before captain Ben Stokes brought Wood in. Though he didn’t take a wicket in his first over, he made a strong impression.

Wood Sets New Record for Fastest Over by an England Bowler

In that over, Wood’s six deliveries were all over 92 mph, including one at 96.5 mph. By the end of the over, he had set a new record for the fastest over by an England bowler at home. But Wood didn’t stop there he went on to bowl an even faster third over, with all deliveries over 93 mph and one reaching 97 mph.

As for the match, the West Indies got off to a solid start with openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis putting on 53 runs for the first wicket. Shoaib Bashir broke their stand by dismissing Louis for 21. At the time of writing, the West Indies were 74 for 1 in response to England’s first innings total of 416.