England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Sidelined for 2024 Due to Elbow Injury

England's fast bowler Mark Wood will miss the rest of 2024 due to a right elbow injury. Diagnosed with a bone stress injury, Wood aims to return by early 2025 for tours in India and Pakistan. The injury excludes him from the test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.

England's pace spearhead, Mark Wood, is set to miss the remainder of the 2024 cricket season following a right elbow injury. This development rules him out of the crucial test tours to Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.

He is England's fastest bowler, and he experienced worsening elbow stiffness during the test series against the West Indies in July. Despite the discomfort, he played the first test against Sri Lanka in Manchester last month, only to sustain a right thigh injury during that match. This injury was initially cited as the reason for his absence in the subsequent tests against Sri Lanka.

However, recent scans have revealed a bone stress injury in his elbow, according to an ECB statement on Friday. Wood will continue his rehabilitation under the guidance of the ECB medical team, aiming for a return to full fitness by early 2025. This timeline is crucial as it aligns with England's white-ball tour of India and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, commencing in February.

(With inputs from agencies.)