Mark Wood made his comeback from injury during England’s tour of India but is unsure how long he can continue at the highest level.
England fast bowler Mark Wood has hinted that the Ashes series in Australia later this year could be the time when he calls time on his career.
The 35-year-old has featured in all three T20Is during England’s ongoing tour of India, on his return from a stress fracture in his elbow that he sustained in August.
“The question is whether I can still be as good or consistent or accurate,” Wood said, adding that he is unsure if he will ever return to his previous level.
“I do doubt if I will come back the same, or if that is it, with the age I am at. They are the doubts I have. I know if I come back, I will still bowl fast,” the right-arm pacer said.
“But I haven’t got many miles on my clock. I work hard on my fitness, I worked hard in that downtime. One percenters like not drinking, trying to eat well, it all plays a small part.
“I was a late developer in cricket. I wasn’t bowling quickly until my early 20s. I don’t see why I can’t keep bowling quickly in the short term.”
He ended with figures of 1-28 from three overs in the second T20I, which India won by two wickets in Chennai.
England will travel to Australia later this year to play five Test matches with their great rivals having won the series in 2021-22 and retained the urn with a draw in 2023.
Wood feels the series, to be played between November 2025 and January 2026, could be the right occasion for him to retire from the game.
“I would feel that as well, thinking this is the age people usually stop,” Wood said.
“I think when you look at what’s coming up, you think could that be the end or could this be the last time I play here? You just don’t know, and I think, as you get older, that creeps in more.
“When I was in my mid-20s or when I first started for England, I never thought that would be the case. Now, there’s all these young guns coming through, am I still at the standard required to play for England?
“I have belief in myself and as long as the close circle around you, [Brendon] McCullum, the captain, your team-mates, believe in you as well then that gives you confidence.”
England are playing five T20Is and three ODIs in India before travelling to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
They will open their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia in Group B on 22 February before facing Afghanistan and South Africa, with the top two sides from the group making it to the semi-finals. Sportsmax
