The Ashes 2025-26 is shaping up to be a series of heartbreak for England fans, and here’s why it’s about to get even tougher: star pace bowler Mark Wood is on the brink of missing the second Test in Brisbane due to lingering concerns over his left knee. This isn’t just a minor setback—it’s a gut punch for both Wood and the team, especially after his long-awaited return from a nine-month injury layoff following surgery on that very same knee. But here’s where it gets controversial: could this latest injury spell the beginning of the end for Wood’s international career? Let’s dive in.
Wood’s comeback in the first Test in Perth was short-lived. At 35, he bowled just 11 overs as England suffered a humiliating defeat, losing to Australia within two days—a first in Ashes history in over a century. His absence from England’s training session in Brisbane on Saturday raised red flags, as he was the only player out of the 13 in Queensland missing from Allan Border Field. If Wood is ruled out, Josh Tongue is the frontrunner to step into the XI for the day-night Test at the Gabba, starting Thursday. Tongue, alongside Matthew Potts and Jacob Bethell, has been gaining match practice with the England Lions against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.
Wood’s injury saga is nothing new. As one of England’s fastest-ever bowlers, his career has been marred by setbacks—from elbow issues to knee surgery. Before Perth, he hadn’t played a Test in 15 months. Even his warm-up match against the England Lions saw him bowl just eight overs before tightness in his left hamstring forced him off. While scans cleared him for Perth, where he returned figures of 0-44, his fitness remains a question mark.
And this is the part most people miss: Wood’s presence was central to England’s strategy of unleashing high pace on Australia. In Perth, their five-man pace attack recorded the team’s fastest collective day of bowling in Test cricket—only for their speeds to drop dramatically on day two as Australia cruised to an eight-wicket win. Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie summed it up bluntly: ‘Do they have enough work in the bank to bowl consistently high pace across a whole match, let alone back-to-back matches?’ That’s the million-dollar question.
Wood’s potential absence at the Gabba—a ground where England haven’t won since 1986—couldn’t come at a worse time. England’s record in day-night Tests is already shaky, with just two wins from seven matches, including three losses in Australia. Meanwhile, Australia boasts a staggering 13 wins from 14 day-night matches, thanks in no small part to Mitchell Starc, the world’s premier pink-ball bowler. The pink ball, while not inherently different from the red one, can be harder to see under lights, and Starc’s ability to consistently bowl over 87mph makes him a nightmare for batsmen.
Wood’s own record in day-night Tests is impressive—he took nine wickets in Hobart in 2022—and his raw pace is a rare asset for England. As former England seamer Stuart Broad explained on the For The Love of Cricket podcast, ‘The pink ball is tricky—it’s like a big planet flying towards you. You’re judging it purely on movement, and at high speeds, that’s no easy task.’ Without Wood, England’s attack loses a crucial edge.
So, here’s the burning question: Can England overcome Wood’s absence and break their Gabba curse, or will Australia’s dominance in day-night cricket prove too much? And what does this mean for Wood’s future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss.
