England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any hamstring damage after a scan in Perth, giving the visitors a timely boost ahead of the first Ashes Test. Wood left the field on the opening day of the warm-up match against England Lions after feeling tightness in his left hamstring. It was the same leg on which he underwent knee surgery earlier this year. The 35-year-old bowled two short spells before stopping as a precaution. Scans on Friday confirmed there was no serious issue, and Wood has been allowed to continue preparing for the Test in Perth on 21 November.
Relief for England
Teammate Brydon Carse said the squad was relieved by the news. Wood is expected to rest for a couple of days before returning to full training. England have not used him in a Test since August 2024 due to elbow and knee setbacks, but the management still see him as central to their plans for this tour. They hope to pair him with Jofra Archer to challenge Australia with pace on what is expected to be a lively Optus Stadium pitch. Wood did not play the final day of the tour match, which England won by five wickets, but will continue with his planned workload in the coming week.
Tour game highlights
Ollie Pope continued his good form with a quick 90, adding to his first-innings century. Joe Root spent valuable time at the crease with 31, while captain Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith finished the chase of 202 inside 35 overs. For the Lions, Jacob Bethell made 70, and future prospects Ben McKinney and Jordan Cox scored their second half-centuries of the match. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir struggled again, conceding nearly seven an over, and was overshadowed by Will Jacks, who bowled Root with a sharp turning ball.
Wood’s clearance came on the same day Australia lost Josh Hazlewood to a hamstring injury, further shifting the fitness narrative ahead of the series opener. England must now decide whether to take the risk of playing Wood straight away or keep him fresh by easing him back through Lions fixtures. Josh Tongue could be a like-for-like alternative if Wood is not selected, while a spin option may also be considered depending on the balance they want.
Meanwhile, Rehan Ahmed has been ruled out of the rest of the Lions’ tour with a leg injury. He will return to the UK but is expected to be ready for the Big Bash League next month with Hobart Hurricanes.
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