Mark Wood announces immediate retirement from international cricket

England fast bowler Mark Wood announced on social media on 22 September 2026 that he has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. The 36-year-old said medical advice had ruled out Test and 50-over cricket.

Wood, one of the fastest bowlers to play for England, has been frequently sidelined by injury during his career. He returned to international action in the first Ashes Test in Perth in November after 15 months out with an elbow injury followed by knee surgery, but bowled only 11 overs before suffering swelling in the same left knee and subsequently flew home for treatment and has not played for England since. In an effort to reduce physical strain he lengthened his run-up in 2018.

Across formats Wood took 119 wickets in 38 Tests after making his debut in 2015, and that summer he helped win back the Ashes on home soil. He was part of England’s 2019 50-over World Cup-winning side, taking 18 wickets in the tournament, and was in the squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup but missed the end stages with a calf problem. In white-ball cricket he finishes as England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in men’s T20s with 54 from 38 matches, and he took 80 wickets in 70 one-day internationals.

"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," Wood said in a statement on social media. "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 last year," he added. "Playing for England has been the greatest honour I could have ever wished for and a dream come true." Wood also said he hopes to continue playing cricket in some capacity.

"It's been a privilege to watch the latter part of a great career," said Rob Key, managing director of England men's cricket. "To have been a point of difference in Ashes series wins, two World Cup wins, 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."

Wood played a key role in England's 2023 Ashes comeback from 2-0 down, with his return to the side and fast spells helping them level the series. At Headingley he bowled a spell that included knocking over Usman Khawaja with a 95mph thunderbolt, and he was at the crease with Chris Woakes to see England over the line in a tense finish.

There was no similar late flourish in Australia this year: a long recovery from elbow and knee problems limited his pace and he could only appear in the first Test in Perth. Wood said last month he was "ashamed" at what happened during that tour.

Wood leaves international cricket as a two-time World Cup winner and one of England’s most rapid bowlers; his retirement means Joe Root is the only remaining England Test player to have previously tasted Ashes glory.