England's Ashes campaign has suffered another significant setback with pace bowler Mark Wood forced to withdraw from the remainder of the tour following a recurrence of his knee problems.
The 35-year-old Durham quick, renowned as one of the fastest bowlers in English cricket history, will return home this weekend after his left knee failed to recover sufficiently from swelling that kept him out of the second Test.
Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher has been drafted into the squad as his replacement.
The news compounds England's difficulties in Australia, where they are already trailing 2-0 in the five-match series.
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Wood took to Instagram to share his devastation at the premature end to his tour.
He wrote: "Gutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes.
"After extensive surgery and months of work and rehab to get back into the Test arena, my knee just hasn't held up."
The paceman revealed the severity of his condition had caught everyone off guard.
Mark Wood has been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the tour
|REUTERS
"None of us expected this. I came here with high expectations about making a big impact," he said, adding further injections and intensive treatment had proved insufficient.
Despite the crushing blow, Wood vowed to fight his way back.
He said: "Whatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again."
Wood's international career, which began in 2015, has yielded 119 wickets across 38 Test matches.
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Mark Wood is renowned as one of the fastest bowlers in English cricket history
|REUTERS
He featured in England's triumphant Ashes squad that year and was part of the side that claimed the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022.
Injuries have repeatedly disrupted his progress at the highest level.
The Perth Test marked his return after a 15-month absence from the longest format, having previously been sidelined by elbow trouble before the knee issue emerged.
Wood managed just 11 overs without claiming a wicket during that first Test at Perth Stadium before the swelling returned.
Wood managed just 11 overs without claiming a wicket during that first Test at Perth Stadium before the swelling returned
|REUTERS
Fisher, who earned his sole Test cap during England's 2022 tour of the Caribbean, has been touring Australia with the England Lions.
The 28-year-old was selected ahead of Josh Hull, with his proficiency in bowling with the Kookaburra ball used in Australian conditions proving decisive.
Australia have also lost a key fast bowler, with Josh Hazlewood confirmed out for the rest of the series.
The 34-year-old, who missed the opening two Tests due to a hamstring complaint, has now sustained an Achilles tendon injury.
The third Test begins in Adelaide on December 17.
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