Mark Wood Has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 36, ending his career of 11 years. England The career ended, being known for fast pace, success in major tournaments and battling frequent injuries. The Durham fast bowler leaves the international stage as a two-time World Cup winner and four-time Ashes participant, having established himself as one of England's most dangerous fast bowlers across all formats.
Mark Wood has announced his retirement from international cricket
He always gave everything for the Three Lions, on and off the field 🦁
What a career, what a player 🙌 pic.twitter.com/d9keObjqbt
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 22, 2026
Mark Wood puts an end to England career
Wood made his debut for England against New Zealand at Lord's in 2015, where he came in as a fast bowler who could regularly exceed 90 mph. In his Test career, he took 119 wickets in 38 matches, while also taking 80 wickets in 70 ODIs.
In the T20Is, Wood took 54 wickets in 38 appearances, making him England's sixth-highest wicket-taker in the shortest format. His ability to generate serious pace makes him a valuable weapon, especially in major tournaments and high-pressure competitions.
However, injuries continued to hamper the latter part of his career. Wood last represented England during the Ashes Test in Perth in November, before another injury further complicated his hopes of returning to international cricket. Medical advice has now ruled out a return to Test and 50-over cricket, leading to Wood's decision to end his England career.
“I have decided to retire from international cricket. Although this is no surprise given the past year, it feels like a natural time at the end of my contract,” Wood said.
Two World Cups and a memorable Ashes moment
Wood played a key role in some of England's important limited overs successes. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, he took 18 wickets as England won the trophy for the first time. His contributions continued in the final at Lord's, where he bowled despite a side strain as England eventually defeated New Zealand in a dramatic Super Over.
Three years later, Wood was again part of a World Cup-winning campaign. He took nine wickets in four matches at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, helping England clinch another global title.
His Ashes record is also full of many defining moments. In the 2015 series, Wood took the wicket that completed England's victory at Trent Bridge. His return to the Test team in 2023 produced another memorable spell at Headingley, where his pace helped England overcome a 2–0 deficit before the series ended 2–2.
Wood leaves international cricket with 253 wickets across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, having combined raw pace with resilience in a career that has been marred by memorable successes and frequent injuries.
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