Mark Wood could be sidelined for three to six months if he undergoes more ankle surgery © Getty Images
Mark Wood, the Durham and England bowler, has been told that he requires a second operation on his troublesome left ankle that is expected to rule him out for up to eight weeks of the 2016 season*.
Wood, who flew home early from England’s tour of the UAE in November to undergo an initial operation on the ankle, was forced to pull out of his scheduled comeback for Durham’s second XI against Scotland, at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, after suffering from more pain during pre-season training.
After a cortisone injection failed to resolve the problem earlier this month, Wood today visited a specialist in the Netherlands who diagnosed a small piece of bone that is causing irritation and inflammation at the back of the joint.
A keyhole procedure will take place either later this week or early next, and while the anticipated recovery time is less than the three to six months that would have been required after a full operation, it is still likely to rule Wood out of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka that gets underway next month.
Wood, who played the most recent of his eight Tests against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in October, was an important member of the England team that won back the Ashes last summer, claiming ten wickets in four Tests, including four in each of England’s wins at Cardiff and Trent Bridge.
However, Wood himself has faced up to the increasing likelihood of surgery, admitting last week: “At some point, the back of my ankle will need to be operated on, that has been made pretty clear to me by England.
“It would be the worst possible time, the worst possible feeling, the worst possible everything, but I would have to take it on the chin.”
* 2pm BST: This story was updated with further information
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo