England may face a prolonged absence of injured fast bowler Mark Wood following their resurgence in the Ashes. Joe Root’s remarkable unbeaten century, his first in Australia, propelled the tourists to a dominant position on day one of the second Test at The Gabba.
Root’s brilliant innings of 135 not out guided England to 325-9, supported by Zak Crawley’s 76 and Jofra Archer’s unbeaten 32. Despite some notable moments from the Australian team, the day belonged to Ben Stokes’ squad.
However, concerns arose off the field as Wood, nursing a knee injury and initially ruled out for the second Test, may also miss the upcoming match in Adelaide. The 35-year-old expressed uncertainty about his return before Christmas, hinting at a potential comeback in Melbourne or Sydney.
Wood, plagued by various injuries in his career, recently made a comeback after a 15-month absence due to an elbow problem. His absence in Brisbane led to Will Jacks replacing him in the squad, as England adjusted their strategy to include a spin option for added depth in batting.
Former England captain Michael Atherton highlighted Wood’s importance as a key fast bowler in the Ashes series, emphasizing the potential impact of his absence on England’s pace-focused game plan. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc shone for Australia, claiming 6-71 with the pink ball in response to Root’s stellar performance.
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