Wood ruled out for remainder of the season

Mark Wood will miss the rest of the season as a result of the side strain sustained during the World Cup final.

Wood, who consistently exceeded 90mph during the tournament, felt pain in his left side during the final against New Zealand. But with the game in the balance continued to bowl at a high pace and almost certainly exacerbated the strain. The winners' medal he has to show for it will, no doubt, ease the pain of missing the Ashes.

Wood will also have surgery on his right knee to clear up some excess cartilage. In normal circumstances, however, that issue would only be expected to put him out of action for two or three weeks. It is the side strain that will keep him on the sidelines for longer.

While England have intimated they are set to play a second string side in the Test series in New Zealand - the series does not count towards the World Test Championship - they are likely to take the T20Is that proceed that series much more seriously. There is a T20 World Cup in little more than a year and Wood will have a good chance of playing in it. His Test return may have to wait until the South Africa tour.

Of England bowlers, only Jofra Archer claimed more than Wood's 18 wickets in the World Cup. Wood also claimed his Test-best figures of 5 for 41 in the only Test he has played in the last year. Bowling unusually fast, he was player of the match for his performance in that Test in St Lucia and would have been a key part of England's Ashes plans had he been fit.

Wood's career has been blighted by injury issues. He has had a succession of problems with his ankle and, until the St Lucia Test, had struggled to turn his potential into something more tangible. But since utilising a longer run-up, he has consistently bowled at speeds above 90mph and enjoyed much better results as a consequence.