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Wood sent for scan after hamstring stiffness in Ashes warm-up

The England quick bowled two four-over spells before leaving the field at Lilac Hill

Tristan Lavalette
13-Nov-2025 • 4 hrs ago
Mark Wood in his delivery stride, England vs England Lions, Tour match, Lilac Hill, November 13, 2025

Mark Wood in his delivery stride  •  Getty Images

England have received a major injury scare ahead of the Ashes after quick Mark Wood experienced stiffness in his left hamstring during their only warm-up match in Perth.
Wood had bowled two four-over spells against the Lions at Lilac Hill in his first competitive match in nine months since surgery on his left knee. He left the field after his second four-over spell midway through the second session.
"The plan for Mark Wood was for him to bowl eight overs today," an ECB statement said. "He has some stiffness in his hamstring, which has kept him off the field for some time during the second session of the first day and will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow.
"He is expected to bowl again in two days' time. It is unlikely he will return to the field today."
England have taken a cautious approach with Wood's rehabilitation from the knee injury that he sustained at the Champions Trophy in February. He had initially hoped to feature in the final Test of their summer series against India, but a setback in training ended up ruling him out of the entire home season.
Wood had bowled several lively deliveries on a relatively sedate surface, conditions far different to what is expected in the first Test at Optus Stadium. He is part of an all-out England pace attack against the Lions, with offspinner Shoaib Bashir not selected in the main XI.
"That's not ideal, but that's part of being an extremely fast bowler," Harry Brook said after the day's play. "I haven't seen him yet and spoken to him, so I don't know his current situation. We'll see what happens tomorrow."
There was further frustration for England's pace attack with Brydon Carse unavailable on the first day of the warm-up match due to illness, prompting him to stay at the team's hotel.
Captain Ben Stokes had been the standout bowler, with four of the five wickets to fall before tea in an encouraging return in his first match since late July.
The development comes just a day after Australia quick Josh Hazlewood was cleared of a hamstring injury. But fellow Ashes Test squad member Sean Abbott was withdrawn from the squad after scans on his left hamstring confirmed a moderate grade strain.

Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth