Mark Wood retires from international cricket after injury ends comeback
Mark Wood has retired from international cricket with immediate effect.
The England fast bowler, 36, confirmed the decision on 22 September. He said medical advice had ruled out a return to Test cricket and 50-over cricket. BBC Sport
The decision ends a comeback that lasted 11 overs. Wood returned for the first Ashes Test in Perth in November 2025 after 15 months out with an elbow injury followed by knee surgery. The Ashes is the five-Test series between England and Australia. Swelling in his left knee flared during the match. He flew home for treatment and has not played for England since.
Test cricket is the five-day format. It demands repeated fast spells across long days. Wood made his debut in 2015 and finished with 119 wickets in 38 Tests. In his first summer he helped England win back the Ashes on home soil. In 2018 he lengthened his run-up in an attempt to reduce stress on his body.
He retires as a two-time world champion in the shorter formats. At the 2019 50-over World Cup, where each team faces 300 balls, he took 18 wickets as England won the title for the first time. He was then in the squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2022, the 20-over format built for speed and big hitting. BBC Sport
Injuries ran through his career. A thigh injury ruled him out of the home Test series against Sri Lanka in August 2024. A month later he said he had been told not to pick up his children with his right arm while recovering from elbow trouble. Reuters In 2022 he admitted he had considered giving up Test cricket during another long layoff.
His threat in Australian conditions was clear. He claimed 17 wickets in the 2021-22 Ashes series. As of November 2025, before the Perth return, he had been sidelined since February.
When the knee swelling ended his Ashes tour, the initial focus was a rehab push towards the 2026 T20 World Cup. In March 2026 he had already spoken about starting to think of life beyond playing while working back from his knee injury. The brief return in Perth answered the remaining question.
What makes this stand out is the trade Wood always made. Full pace can shift a session in minutes. It also wears down knees and elbows. For fans, this means no farewell tour. Just a clear stop after one last try.
