Mark Wood looks set to miss the second Ashes Test after taking part in England’s first training session in Brisbane.
The Durham pace bowler stayed at the team hotel to deal with a left knee issue while the rest of the team returned to work at Allan Border Field for an optional session.
England are scheduled to practice for four more days, including two under lights at the Gabba, ahead of the second day-night Test, but Wood is currently not expected to play in that match.
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Mark Wood explains how he did a lot of work behind the scenes to add ball movement to his natural speed.
The 35-year-old has missed the entire domestic season after undergoing surgery on the same knee in March, and also suffered a hamstring injury in the pre-series warm-up match against the England Lions.
He eventually stayed fit after being sent for scans, but delivered just 11 overs with heavy straps in Perth as the tourists lost two days. Despite being wicketless, he topped 93mph in the first innings and hit helmeted all-rounder Cameron Green with a powerful bouncer, only to see his pace briefly drop during Australia’s chase.
He previously made it clear to former England captain Michael Vaughan that he did not expect to play all five games Down Under. fox sports: “I would never play it five times, I know that. I think it depends. I think we just have to review it after every game.”
England reserves Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts are currently in Canberra taking part in the Lions’ match against the Prime Minister’s XI. This gives them a welcome break in between if they are asked to and are due to connect with the rest of the Test team on Monday.
Tongue went wicketless in 16 overs on Saturday and Potts claimed two for 40 in the same quota as the Prime Minister’s XI were declared 8 for 308. England Lions reached stumps for 30 in the two-day match.
Josh Tongue is in pole position to take over from Wood.
Tongue, who was the team’s leading wicket-taker against India over the summer, appears to be in pole position if a five-pronged pace attack continues to be the preferred approach, but spinner Shoaib Bashir and all-rounder Will Jacks are also ready if a different balance is chosen.
Rain brought an early end to England’s initial Queensland training, but the players were able to take their time catching a pink kookaburra despite the daylight conditions.
England desperate to avenge ‘rubbish’ performance
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England captain Ben Stokes has urged his players not to dwell on the eight-wicket loss to Australia in the Ashes opener in Perth.
Ben Stokes believes some criticism of his England team has gone too far. – But it’s better to be called “scum” than “arrogant.”
Former Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson branded them “arrogant” in a strongly worded column. western australia The newspaper had previously branded Stokes an “uppity complainer”.
Ahead of the first of five training sessions in Brisbane before Thursday’s day/night second Test, Stokes took issue with those questioning his team’s character.
“The arrogance may be a little too much, but that’s okay. We’ll smooth out the rough edges,” he said.
“Call it what you want. I prefer words like ‘rubbish’, but I’m not sure about ‘arrogant’. We didn’t have the Test match we wanted, but we were great in that game.”
Ashes series 2025-26 in Australia
Always UK and Ireland
- First Test (Perth – 21-25 November): Australia beat England by 8 wickets.
- Second test (day/night): Thursday 4 December – Monday 8 December (4am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third test: Wednesday 17 December – Sunday 21 December (11.30pm) – Adelaide Oval
- Fourth test: Thursday 25 December – Monday 29 December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Fifth test: Sunday 4 January – Thursday 8 January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
