'This time it's just ground me down': Mark Wood retires from international cricket

England bowler Mark Wood has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old paceman played 38 Test matches over an 11-year England career, taking 119 wickets, and made 70 one-day international appearances, part of England's 50-over World Cup-winning squad in 2019.

The Northumberland-born bowler also played 38 T20s and was in the England squad which won the World Cup in 2022, although injury ruled him out of the semi-final and the final. Arguably England's fastest-ever bowler, Wood clocked 97.7mph in the 2021/22 Ashes series and took the final wicket at Trent Bridge when England regained the urn in 2015. His last appearance for England came in an eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series.

Injuries ultimately cost Wood more caps, and a knee problem has prompted him to call time on his international career, admitting that his usual resilience has finally been worn down.

“When you speak to other people, they say it hits you in the face, there's a big feeling around that being it, 'you're done',” he told Sky Sports. “I've never really had that, I love playing cricket, I love playing for England, that's been something I've felt really strongly about and proud to do. But I've had a lot of injuries.

“I've always found a way where I've believed I'd come back and had that resilience where I'm going to come back again, or I'll be better, or I'll prove somebody wrong again, but this time it's just ground me down really.”

True to his selfless nature, Wood used the announcement to look forward rather than back.

“I never really wanted to give up England, but the lads that are coming through are doing a fantastic job and the news should be about the lads going to get their contracts and I can just focus on other things.”

“My stats won't read I was the best bowler ever – but I hope my teammates think I was someone who tried my best every time,” he added, closing the door on a career defined as much by searing pace and wholehearted commitment as by the injury battles that ultimately shortened it.