Mark Wood, England's Fastest Bowler, Retires at 36 Due to Knee Injury

Mark Wood, who holds the distinction of being England's fastest ever bowler, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old's decision comes after an 18-month struggle with a persistent left knee issue.

Wood's final Test appearance was in the Ashes Test defeat in Perth last November. He had suffered a setback with his knee during the Champions Trophy in late February 2025. Despite undergoing intensive rehabilitation with the hope of participating in the Ashes, his body reacted poorly to bowling at high speeds during the first innings of the eight-wicket loss to Australia. His ability to generate speeds close to 90mph without extensive warm-up had convinced selectors to include him, even though he reported discomfort in a practice match and wore a knee brace afterward.

He was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series and expressed his disappointment. Following a summer of attempts to prolong his career under knee consultant Simon Ball, Wood has now decided to end his international career. He described his rehabilitation progress prior to surgery as slow, stating, "It was improving, but slowly, slowly."

A 'tidy-up' surgery in July appears to have been his last attempt to return to the field. Wood was a key member of England's 2019 and 2022 World Cup-winning squads in 50-over and T20 cricket, respectively. His commitment to bowling fast was a defining characteristic of his play.

He delivered a delivery clocked at 97.1mph against the West Indies at Trent Bridge, averaging 91.2mph, the highest recorded average speed in a Test match on British soil. Twelve months prior to that, he was named man of the match for his seven wickets at Headingley, a performance that helped England's Ashes comeback hopes. Wood's record against Australia was particularly strong, outperforming his overall statistics, and he took 17 wickets in four appearances during the 2021-22 Ashes series.

Wood, a popular figure among teammates and fans for his affable personality, is expected to announce his retirement at his home ground of Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, coinciding with England's one-day series opener against Sri Lanka. His central contract is set to expire next week. It is anticipated that Wood will transition into broadcasting, with a potential regular role with Sky Sports, for whom he has worked on several occasions during the summer.