Ashes injury scare for England with Mark Wood in hospital for scan on hamstring

England endured the most chilling of starts to their Ashes warm-up with a potential injury to Mark Wood meaning the key fast-bowler will start the second day of their solitary pre-series fixture in hospital rather than on the pitch.

Wood reported “stiffness in his hamstring” at the end of his second four-over spell against the Lions at Lilac Hill and will have a precautionary scan on Friday morning to assess the extent of any damage.

England’s plan had been for Wood to bowl eight overs across the opening day against the Lions, a number he reached in the hour after lunch. The 33-year-old immediately left the field, and though sources in the England camp initially put this down to thirst when he failed to return after tea a more sobering update emerged.

This is Wood’s first game of any kind since England’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Lahore in February. He underwent surgery for medial ligament damage on his left knee – the same leg that is currently troubling him – the following month. Though he hoped to return in time to play at least the final Test against India in July – and he recently told the Guardian that he “could have played at the back end of the season” – England decided to err on the side of caution so as not to jeopardise his participation in the Ashes. The question now is whether, even if the scan finds no significant injury, they should again take the cautious approach and leave him out of the opening Test, given that it starts in Perth as soon as next Friday.

Wood has been increasing his loads in training since the summer, having arrived in New Zealand nearly a month ago to start ramping up his Ashes preparations, and he has reported no issues in that time. England’s hope now is that his scan is clear, and that he is able to bowl again on Saturday, in line with their pre-match planning. They may be encouraged by Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, who underwent a scan on his hamstring on Wednesday after reporting tightness while playing for New South Wales against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, but after being given a clean bill of health will report for international duty as planned.

Brydon Carse had already been ruled out of the start of the Lions game through illness, having reported stomach issues on the morning of the game. He was replaced in the England XI by Josh Tongue but named in the Lions’ 13-man team and could still bowl on days two and three.