WI vs ENG: Mark Wood doubtful for remainder of West Indies series amid elbow injury

The ongoing first Test match is poised for a thrilling finishing with the West Indies needing 286 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. England on the other hand must take all 10 wickets with one more session left. The series opener witnessed both teams giving each other a run for their money in a high-scoring contest.

While the Antigua Test has been interesting so far with the possibility of it ending in a stalemate, it has been reported that there is an injury scare in the England camp. The person in discussion is pacer Mark Wood who had to leave the field due to some issues with his elbow. This could turn out to be a huge blow for the visitors in this game.

Mark Wood experiences elbow problems in Antigua Test

The incident happened during West Indies’ first innings on the third day of the opening Test. Mark Wood was ruled out from the remainder of the host’s first innings after he had complained of soreness in his bowling elbow. Wood could only manage to bowl four overs with the old ball before lunch and then bowled another one with the new ball.

He was then in no position to continue and the injury forced him to leave the field. The tall pacer took just one wicket and that happened to be of the West Indies Test skipper Kraigg Brathwaite. He conceded 45 runs from his 17 overs that also included four maidens.

“[The elbow’s] pretty sore at the moment. We’re going to have to assess him overnight and see if he is going to be available for the second innings”, said England’s interim head coach Paul Collingwood as quoted by ESPN cricinfo.

“I’m not too sure [what it is], all I know at this moment is its soreness in the elbow. He didn’t feel that confident this morning, but then he got it strapped up, and it felt okay. Then he tried another over in another spell and it didn’t feel so good. We’ll get the anti-inflammatories into him overnight, get him iced up, and see how he is tomorrow”, he added.

“You need those kind of guys, 90mph guys who can reverse-swing the ball in these conditions. They are gold dust in these conditions. So it will be disappointing if he’s not involved in the second innings, but we’ll have to wait and see”, the former England all-rounder further said.

The extent of Mark Wood’s injury is yet to be known and it would be a huge setback for England if it prevents him from taking any further part in the series. The pace sensation was the Joe Root-led side’s highest wicket-taker in an otherwise forgettable Ashes 2021/22 campaign against arch-rivals Australia down under as he finished with 17 scalps to his name from four matches. Wood didn’t come out to bowl in the second innings.