England’s Mark Wood may face an extended absence due to injury despite England’s strong comeback in the Ashes. England’s Joe Root showcased a brilliant unbeaten century, the first in Australia, leading the team to a commanding position on day one of the second Test at The Gabba.
Root’s outstanding 135 not out guided England to a total of 325-9, supported by Zak Crawley’s 76 and Jofra Archer’s 32 not out. Despite some success from the Australian team, the day belonged to Ben Stokes’ squad.
However, concerns arose about Wood’s injury. Initially ruled out only for the second Test due to a knee issue, Wood now faces uncertainty about his availability for the upcoming Adelaide encounter. The 35-year-old expressed doubts about returning before Christmas, indicating a potential comeback around the Melbourne or Sydney Tests.
Wood, known for his injury woes, returned to the Test arena after 15 months in Perth due to an elbow problem. He continued to wear a knee brace on the sidelines in Brisbane as England made one change to their lineup, with Will Jacks replacing him.
Former England captain Michael Atherton highlighted Wood’s importance and the setback caused by his injury, suggesting a potential minimal impact on the series. England altered their strategy by including spinner Jacks in place of Wood for the Brisbane Test.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc shone for Australia, claiming 6-71 with the pink ball in response to Root’s stellar performance. The Ashes action is broadcast live on TNT Sports via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
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