England fast bowler Mark Wood has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.
The 36-year-old, who is one of the fastest bowlers to ever play for England, has been blighted by injuries throughout his career.
The Durham paceman only returned to action in the first Ashes Test in Perth in November after 15 months out with an elbow injury followed by knee surgery.
However, he bowled just 11 overs before suffering swelling in the same left knee and subsequently flew home for treatment. He has not played for England since.
“Although this may not come as a surprise given the past year, it just feels like a natural time at the end of my contract,” Wood said in a statement on social media.
“I’ve always tried to be resilient and come back from injury to prove people wrong and show everyone what I can do. Unfortunately, this time I lost the battle.
“On medical advice, Test cricket and 50-over cricket are not possible, so the England dream has slowly been ground out of me over the last year.
“Playing for England has been the greatest honour I could have ever wished for and a dream come true.”
Wood added that he hopes to continue playing cricket in some capacity.
Wood took 119 wickets in 38 Tests after making his debut in 2015, and that summer he helped win back the Ashes on home soil.
However, he has suffered a string of ankle, knee and elbow injuries during his career.
In a bid to limit the stress on his body, he lengthened his run-up in 2018, and that did allow him to play key roles in some of England’s biggest successes in recent years.
The altered run-up did not impact his pace and he was part of the team that lifted the 2019 50-over World Cup, where he took 18 wickets.
He was also in the squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2022, but missed the end stages of the tournament with a calf problem.
In white-ball cricket, Wood retires as England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in men’s T20s with 54 from 38 matches, and he took 80 scalps in 70 one-day internationals.
Wood played a key role in helping England come from 2-0 down in the 2023 Ashes, with his return to the team – and blistering spells of bowling – helping them level the series.
“It’s been a privilege to watch the latter part of a great career,” said Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket.
“To have been a point of difference in Ashes series wins, two World Cup wins, and to have thrilled crowds every time he got the ball in his hand is something very few players achieve. He can look back with enormous pride on a career very well spent.”
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