England vs India 2021: Mark Wood Ruled Out Of 3rd Test At Leeds

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that express pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the third Test of the 5-match series against India. He had suffered a shoulder injury while fielding during the second Test at Lord’s last week.

Wood was coming into his own during the third innings against India, running through the Indian top-order. Unfortunately, he hurt his right shoulder while attempting to stop a boundary on the fourth day of the match, following which, he was seen wearing heavy straps on the shoulder.

Although he continued to bowl in the Test, he has now been ruled out of the Headingley Test starting on August 25. He will not be able to recover in time so will continue his rehabilitation with England’s medical team. He will undergo further assessment after August 29.

Earlier, Stuart Broad was ruled out of the entire LV=Insurance Test series because of a right calf muscle injury. He sustained the injury while warming up for the second against India.

Mark Wood’s exclusion adds to England’s already elongated list of injuries

Even before the start of the series, primary bowler Jofra Archer was exempted from the squad after he couldn’t recover in time from his elbow injury. The situation worsened when the hosts learned that he will be sitting out for the entire year, including the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.

Ben Stokes, the glue that holds the English team together, withdrew from the squad citing mental health concerns. He took an indefinite break from cricket in order to focus on his mental health. Chris Woakes is also suffering from a heel injury.

The latest issue with Mark Wood means England has only one experienced pacer in the bowling attack, Jimmy Anderson. ECB had already called up Saqib Mahmood as a cover, and the team is now under immense pressure to avoid defeat in the Headingley Test.

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