England pacer Mark Wood could be seen playing for Durham in their County Championship fixtures in September, as he looks to take his rehabilitation to the next level with the Ashes fast approaching. The 35-year-old turned the side’s fortunes in the last Ashes, having taken 14 wickets at 20.21, and helping England return from 2-0 down to draw the series. But England are devoted to not fast-tracking Wood back to the side, even if that means putting the Ashes at stake.
Wood, who underwent surgery on his knee in March to repair ligament damage in his left knee, was initially forced out of competitive cricket for four months. But that recovery timeline has now extended to six months and counting, owing to a few setbacks in his rehabilitation, as well as England’s and his own extremely vigilant behaviour around recovery. While he was expected to make his comeback in the fifth Test match against India, the management decided against doing so after his knee swelled up while training ahead of the third Test at Lord’s.
He was also mooted for a return in England’s white-ball fixtures against South Africa and Ireland in September, but that too had to be scrapped to avoid any further risks with Wood’s recovery.
Wood could play a couple of games for Durham, who would be elated to see the pacer join them for the first time since the 2021 County Championship. Durham, who were promoted to the first division last season, are fighting, what seems to be, a definite relegation, currently sitting in ninth spot. They are yet to play Hampshire, Essex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire. Wood’s inclusion in Durham’s next two games is a long shot. However, he should be good to feature against Worcestershire, who are, incidentally, in tenth spot, as well as against Yorkshire, but that would depend on how his knee fares in the first game.
“I’m hoping to play for Durham as there are a couple of games in September – so I’ll try and play one or two of those,” Wood told the Stick to Cricket podcast.
“The injury is alright. It was fifty-fifty whether I was going to make the India Test but I was bowling at Lord’s and then, the next day, my knee swelled up again so I had it drained and since then it’s just been about taking things easy looking ahead to the winter.”
He revealed that he pushed England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, for some game time, after having had a surfeit of bowling only in nets for the past six months.
“I’ve been well looked after and very cautious, that’s the way that it’s been. I value it as they’ve (the ECB) got this end-game where they want me to get to Australia.
“But I said to Baz McCullum, I can’t just bowl to a net for four months, I’ll go insane. There’s a bowling camp in Loughborough in a tent – getting acclimatised there ready for Perth – then I’ll go over to Perth early with a couple of bowlers. We’ll arrive about a week early to prepare and get acclimatised.”
