The England fast bowler Mark Wood has announced his international retirement, ending his 11-year career with immediate effect.
The 36-year-old has taken 253 wickets in 146 international games across formats. He picked 119 wickets in 38 Tests and considered as one England’s finest fast bowlers.
He finished with 80 wickets in 70 ODIs and 54 wickets in 38 T20Is making him the second highest wicket taker in the shortest format of the game.
The Durham pacer only returned to action in the first Ashes Test in Perth in November after 15 months out with an elbow injury followed by knee injury. He bowled only 11 overs before suffering swelling in the same left knee and subsequently flew home for treatment. He has not played for England since then.
Mark Wood made his England debut during the New Zealand game played at Lord’s in 2015.
His career included two World Cup triumphs, one in each white-ball format. He played a key role in England’s 2019 ODI World Cup title run on home soil.
A succession of injuries has limited his availability for the national side. Mark Wood said medical advice had ruled out a return to Test and 50-over cricket.
“I’ve made the decision to retire from international cricket. Although this may not come as a surprise given the past year, it just feels like a natural time at the end of my contract.”
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
“I’ve always tried to be resilient and come back from injury to prove people wrong and show everyone what I can do. Unfortunately this time I lost the battle. On medical advice, Test cricket and 50-over cricket are not possible, so the England dream has slowly been ground out of me over the past year.”
“Playing for England has been the greatest honour I could have ever wished for and a dream come true. The little lad in me would be so chuffed to have played so much for England. To travel the world, meet incredible people and play against the best, is something I feel incredibly lucky to have done, doing something I have loved.”
Meanwhile, England men’s managing director Rob Key said, “It’s been a privilege to watch the latter part of a great career.”
“To have been a point of difference in Ashes series wins, a World Cup, and to have thrilled crowds every time he got the ball in his hand is something very few players achieve. He can look back with enormous pride on a career very well spent,” concluded England Men’s managing director Rob Key.