Wood ruled out of Sri Lanka series as injury jinx returns
Durham fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of England’s tour of Sri Lanka with a left side strain.
Wood, who has a long history of injury problems, sustained the latest one at the end of the tour to South Africa earlier this month.
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board on Friday said scans had revealed the 30-year-old sustained “a small tear to his left side”.
Wood will now “commence an injury rehabilitation programme, working with England and Durham medical teams respectively”, the ECB statement added.
Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood will replace Wood in the England Test squad, with the players set to travel to Sri Lanka on Monday March 2.
Wood had been troubled by a similar problem following the World Cup, which saw him miss the 2019 Ashes series.
England open the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on March 19. Lancashire opener Keaton Jennings and Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes were both recalled to the squad.
Jonny Bairstow, though, will not be in the 16-man touring party while England’s record wicket-taker James Anderson is another high-profile absentee, with Moeen Ali remaining unavailable for Test selection.
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