Mark Wood has been out of action since March 2025.
Wood was managing an ongoing issue with his knee for over a year. The right-arm quick left the field due to an injury during the side’s Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan in Lahore in March.
Wood was then ruled out of all cricket after scans and subsequent surgery, which confirmed ligament damage to his left knee.
“(The knee is) not bad. Slow progress. It’s not gone as quick as I’d have wanted but this last little bit, I’m starting to kick on and I’m bowling again,” said Wood to Sky Sports on the progress he made after his knee injury.
“I’m not too far away now; maybe the last game of the series I can try and aim for. That’s at the forefront of my mind,” he added.
The Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, is currently touring England for five Test matches. While the marquee series got underway on June 20 in Leeds, it will culminate with the Oval Test, scheduled to be played from July 31 to August 4.
After his surgery, Wood had said: “I’m gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. But I’ve got every confidence that I’ll be back firing on all cylinders now that I’ve been able to sort my knee out.”
“I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support – and, of course, our fans. I can’t wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team.”
Mark Wood is among many English quicks currently recovering from injury. Jofra Archer is one of them but he can make his international return for the second India-England Test, slated to be held at Edgbaston from July 2 to July 6.