ENGLAND TOUR OF INDIA, 2016-17

Another ankle surgery likely to rule Wood out of India tour

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Wood faces a lengthy stay on the sidelines after another ankle injury © Cricbuzz

Mark Wood, the England pacer, is likely to be ruled out of the India tour after it was revealed that he fractured a bone on his left ankle while bowling for Durham against Surrey in a County Championship match last month. Wood has already been ruled out of the ongoing Bangladesh tour.

This will be the third surgery on Wood's ankle in the last 12 months. He only recently returned to the national side for the home series against Pakistan, but the surgery is likely to keep him out for long.

"Woody showed his commitment to Durham with the way he bowled 35 overs in that Surrey game, and we know now that he also showed a hell of a lot of courage and resilience," England's National Physiotherapy Lead Ben Langley said on Sunday (October 9).

"His foot and ankle swelled up hugely during the game, which was obviously worrying, and then we were perplexed when nothing significant showed up on the first scan. It was only when we got him in for a second scan that we discovered he'd been playing on despite having fractured a bone.

"So it's a different injury to what he's had the previous surgery for, and there's no reason to think that when he's had this bone fragment removed, he won't be able to get back to bowling as well he has for Durham, England Lions and England in the second half of the 2016 summer," he added.

Wood first had a surgery last November after missing the third Test against Pakistan in UAE. The 26-year-old experienced pain again earlier this year during a pre-season training session and was forced to have his second surgery. He then made his competitive return for Durham and was mightily impressive in the Natwest T20 Blast semi-final in which he picked up four wickets to send his side to the final. Hewas then picked in the One-Day International squad to face Pakistan where he picked up seven wickets in four matches. He could now potentially target the limited overs leg of the India tour in January for his comeback.

© Cricbuzz