Mark Wood has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 36, bringing an end to an 11-year England career defined by express pace, major tournament success and repeated battles with injury. The Durham fast bowler leaves the international stage as a two-time World Cup winner and four-time Ashes participant, having established himself as one of England’s most feared quicks across formats.

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

Mark Wood calls time on England career

Wood made his England debut against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2015, arriving as a tearaway fast bowler capable of regularly pushing beyond 90 mph. Across his Test career, he collected 119 wickets in 38 matches, while also taking 80 wickets from 70 ODIs.

In T20Is, Wood claimed 54 wickets in 38 appearances, making him England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in the shortest format. His ability to generate serious pace made him a valuable weapon, particularly in major tournaments and high-pressure contests.

However, injuries increasingly disrupted the latter part of his career. Wood last represented England during the Ashes Test in Perth in November before another injury setback further complicated his hopes of returning to international cricket. Medical advice has now ruled out a return to Test and 50-over cricket, prompting Wood to bring his England career to a close.

“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,” Wood said.

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Two World Cups and memorable Ashes moments

Wood played a significant role in some of England’s most important limited-overs triumphs. During the 2019 ODI World Cup on home soil, he took 18 wickets as England lifted the trophy for the first time. His contribution extended into the final at Lord’s, where he continued bowling despite a side strain as England eventually defeated New Zealand in a dramatic Super Over finish.

Three years later, Wood was again part of a World Cup-winning campaign. He claimed nine wickets in four matches at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, helping England secure another global title.

His Ashes record also featured several defining moments. In the 2015 series, Wood took the wicket that completed England’s victory at Trent Bridge. His return to the Test side in 2023 produced another memorable spell at Headingley, where his pace helped England recover from a 2-0 deficit before the series finished 2-2.

Wood leaves international cricket with 253 wickets across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, having combined raw pace with resilience throughout a career shaped by both memorable successes and persistent injury setbacks.

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