Overview
- Mark Wood announced his immediate international retirement on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, saying the timing felt right as his England central contract expired.
- He cited medical advice that a recurring left-knee problem rules out Test matches and 50‑over cricket, and said this latest setback left him unable to return to the required level.
- Wood finishes an 11-year England career with 253 international wickets across formats, including 119 in 38 Tests, and was part of England’s 2019 ODI and 2022 T20 World Cup squads.
- His final England outing was the first Test of the 2025–26 Ashes in Perth, where swelling in the left knee after 11 overs forced him out and he did not play for the national side again.
- England managing director Rob Key paid tribute to Wood’s impact, and Wood thanked teammates and fans while saying he hopes to stay involved in cricket and has not ruled out short‑form or franchise cricket.