England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to discover this week whether he has sustained a stress fracture in his right elbow, which could require surgery. Wood was ruled out for the rest of the year in September after scans revealed a “bone-stress injury” in his elbow.
Initially sidelined due to a groin strain during the first Test against Sri Lanka, further investigation into stiffness in his elbow revealed the more serious injury. While initial scans were optimistic, showing no clear fracture, a specialist appointment this week will provide a definitive answer.
Wood, who bowled consistently in the mid-90s this summer, including a 97.1mph delivery against West Indies, has had previous elbow surgeries in 2022. He shared that doctors have advised him to limit using his right side in daily activities, including picking up his children.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) remains hopeful that surgery won’t be necessary, but the outcome of this week’s assessment will be crucial in determining the next steps for the fast bowler.