England fast bowler Mark Wood has retired from international cricket after an extended battle with injuries. The 36-year-old confirmed his decision on Tuesday, ending an 11-year career with 253 wickets across all formats.
Wood played 38 Tests, 70 one-day internationals and 38 T20 internationals for England. His last appearance came in November during the opening Test of England’s 4-1 Ashes series defeat against Australia.
The fast bowler has dealt with repeated ankle and elbow problems throughout his career. He said medical advice had now ruled out a return to Test and 50-over cricket.
Mark Wood Ends England Career
Wood said his retirement felt like the natural conclusion of his England contract after a difficult year.
“I’ve always tried to be resilient and come back from injury to prove people wrong,” Wood said in a statement shared on social media.
However, he acknowledged that his latest injury problems had proved too difficult to overcome. He said his hopes of continuing to play for England had gradually disappeared over the past year.
Wood was known for his extreme pace and aggressive spells. His ability to regularly bowl at high speed made him an important part of England’s attack across different formats.
Wood Made His Mark in the Ashes
Wood made his Test debut in 2015 and quickly became part of England’s plans against Australia.
During that year’s Ashes series, he bowled Australia batter Nathan Lyon to seal England’s final Ashes victory in the series at Trent Bridge. The moment became one of the highlights of his early international career.
Wood also played an important role during the 2021-22 Ashes campaign in Australia. He finished the series with 17 wickets and was among England’s leading bowlers.
Although England lost that series, Wood’s pace and attacking approach stood out throughout the contest.
World Cup Success Added to Wood’s Career
Wood also played a major role in England’s 2019 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil.
He took 18 wickets in 10 matches during the tournament. England eventually defeated New Zealand in a dramatic final at Lord’s to win the World Cup for the first time.
Three years later, Wood was part of England’s squad that won the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
His career therefore included major achievements in both Test and limited-overs cricket.
Wood Hopes to Continue Playing
Despite ending his international career, Wood has not ruled out continuing to play cricket.
He said he hopes to remain involved in the sport in some capacity while taking on new challenges.
“I got to live out a dream,” Wood said. “I hope I can continue playing cricket in some capacity and pursuing other challenges in the future.”
Wood leaves international cricket having played a significant role in one of England’s most successful limited-overs eras. His pace, resilience and ability to return from injury made him a distinctive figure in the England team for more than a decade.
