England suffered another big blow as Mark Wood joins the long list of injured English players and has been ruled out of the third Test against India at Headingley, scheduled to start on August 25.
Wood, who has had shoulder issues in the past, damaged his shoulder while diving on the boundary line on the fourth day of the Lord’s Test. He did take the field on the fifth day but only bowled four overs. Wood will remain with the team in Leeds and continue his recovery under England medical team’s observation.
Wood’s injury is likely to open the door for a Test debut for Saqib Mahmood, who has been in outstanding form in recent months. The Somerset medium-pacer Craig Overton could also be considered with his handy batting ability down the order. England have James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Sam Curran as other pacers in the squad.
Wood becomes the fifth England player to be sidelined through injury for some part of the ongoing series. Jofra Archer and Olly Stone were ruled out of the whole India series and more. Stuart Broad, who played the first Test, suffered a calf injury and has been forced out of the series.
Chris Woakes is still unavailable due to a bruised heel while England’s MVP Ben Stokes remains unavailable after taking some time off from cricket to focus on mental health.
Woakes is expected to play some part in the last two games. He is set to play in the Warwickshire second XI match against Worcestershire to prove his fitness and return to England for the fourth Test.
England are currently trailing by 0-1 in the five-match series after an embarrassing loss at Lord’s. With three more Tests to go, the hosts will have to overcome countless issues in their squad to save the series against a charged-up, in-form Indian team.
