The 30-year-old English right-arm fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of the upcoming away Test series against the hosts Sri Lanka due to the side strain.
England cricket team is now getting ready for the Sri Lanka tour where they will play the two-match Test series against the hosts from 19th to 31st March 2020. This Test series will be the part of the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship.
Mark Wood was present during England’s last tour in South Africa and played the Test and T20Is in that tour. During the end of that tour, Wood sustained this injury. The recent scans have confirmed a small tear to his left side. Wood will now have to face the injury rehabilitation programme.
BREAKING: Mark Wood has been ruled out of England's tour to Sri Lanka with a side strain ? pic.twitter.com/rGafnnZbrO
— ICC (@ICC) February 28, 2020
In the Test series during the South Africa tour, Mark Wood featured in the last two Tests at Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. In the last Test of that tour at Johannesburg, Wood was awarded the Player of the Match for his superb bowling effort as he picked up nine wickets (5/46 & 4/54) in that game.
Mark Wood finished that Test series with 12 wickets in two Tests – fourth most wicket-taker in that series and second-most wicket-taker for England in that Test series.
In the T20I series during that South Africa tour, Mark Wood took four wickets.
Saqib Mahmood replaced Mark Wood
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also announced the replacement of Mark Wood in the Test squad for upcoming Sri Lanka tour. The 23-year-old Test-uncapped right-arm pacer Saqib Mahmood has replaced Wood for the forthcoming tour.
Saqib Mahmood made his international debut in November 2019. He has played only ODI and three T20Is for England where he has taken one and three wickets respectively.
On Monday (2nd March), the England Test team will travel to Sri Lanka. Before the two-match Test series against the hosts Sri Lanka, the English team will play one three-day match and one four-day game in that tour.