Mark Wood sets return timeline for fifth India test as he steps up his recovery from knee surgery he had in March.
Mark Wood targeting fifth India Test for potential comeback.
As he intensifies his recuperation from knee surgery, Mark Wood says he may yet play in England’s Test series against India.
The 35-year-old had surgery in March after limping out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year due to injury to his left knee’s medial ligament. He was essentially ruled out of playing in the five Test matches against Shubman Gill’s India, which got underway at Headingley on Friday, due to the early prognosis of a four-month recuperation period.
Wood has since disclosed that he might be selected for the last Test, which starts on July 31 at the Kia Oval. It is believed that he will return to competition for Durham when they travel to Somerset for their County Championship match, which starts on July 22 and uses the Kookaburra ball.
“Rehab is going well,” Wood told BBC Test Match Special. “I’ve just started bowling very lightly, so I’m on the comeback trail now officially.
“I’m hoping still to play a part in this series, so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against. I’m still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test, I might not get there, but at the minute, that’s still my focus that I might play a part.
“It’s been a bit slow [coming back] to start with. I haven’t been able to do a lot, but starting to speed up now, getting some bowling in, hopefully not too much longer. [I am] still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I’ll just wait and see.”
Given the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia and the fact that injuries have reduced their speed options, England will be wary of Wood. Gus Atkinson missed the first India Test due to a hamstring strain against Zimbabwe, and Olly Stone missed the entire Test season due to a knee ailment.
In the meantime, Jofra Archer’s cautiously planned comeback is still going strong. The England management is hopeful that he will be ready for the second Test in Birmingham, which begins on July 2, stoking interest in a possible Test comeback following four years out due to stress fractures in his right elbow and back.
It is anticipated that Archer, who last participated in competitive red-ball cricket in May 2021, will start for Sussex against Durham on Sunday.