England suffer major blow for Leeds Test vs India with THIS pacer ruled out due to injury

The England cricket team is facing a huge crisis in the ongoing series against the Indian cricket team. After losing Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer for the whole series, and with the batting in shambles, the hosts have suffered yet another jolt ahead of the Leeds Test. Mark Wood, who touched speeds close to 93 mph and who took five wickets in the Lord’s Test, has been ruled out of the third Test in Leeds due to a shoulder injury. Wood sustained the injury during the fourth day of the Lord’s Test in which he was trying to save a boundary.

In a statement by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), it said, “Wood sustained the injury on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s and will not be fit to play at Emerald Headingley starting on Wednesday. He will remain with the squad in Leeds and will continue his rehab with the England medical team. The 31-year-old will be assessed at the end of this Test match.”

Replacement for Mark Wood in Leeds Test?

The England and Wales Cricket Board has not announced a replacement for Wood for Leeds. The likes of Craig Overton and Saqib Mahmood are already there in the team. They might fill up the spot left vacant by Wood’s injury. James Anderson, Sam Curran, and Ollie Robinson are the three pacers along with Moeen Ali, the spinner.

There was a chance that Chris Woakes might feature in the Test. The Warwickshire pacer missed the first two Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord’s due to a heel injury. Woakes is slated to make his comeback in County cricket. But he might make a return to the England team closer to the fourth Test at The Oval.

England’s mixed record at Leeds

England has not won against India in Leeds since 1967. In the interim, they have played three Tests with two losses and a draw. In the last Test that they played against India in Leeds in 2002, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar hit centuries to boost India to 628/8 declared. India won by an innings and 46 runs to level the series 1-1.

England has had a mixed record at Leeds in the last couple of years. Ever since 2014, England have lost Tests to New Zealand and West Indies. In 2016, England lost by 199 runs to New Zealand while in 2017, the West Indies ran out victors by five wickets in their chase of 322.

However, England has also secured three memorable wins. The hosts secured two innings victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. But, it was their Ashes 2019 win against Australia that was the most memorable. They were bowled out for 67 and needed 362 to win the match and draw level in the series. Ben Stokes played the innings of a lifetime and staged a miracle as England won by one wicket to level the Ashes series in style.

However, with so many key players missing, England might face an uphill task to level the series against India.