England fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka with a thigh injury, it was announced before play on Saturday.
The 34-year-old Durham quick left the field at Old Trafford just two balls into his 11th over late on Friday.
Following an assessment by England medical staff, the injury-prone paceman has been advised to rest.
England will hope they can still go 1-0 up in this three-match series without Wood’s express speed, with Sri Lanka resuming on 204-6 in their second innings — a lead of just 82 runs.
An England and Wales Cricket Board statement said: “England pace bowler Mark Wood has sustained a right thigh muscle injury late on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.
“He will not return to the field today and will continue to be assessed by the England medical team to determine the full extent of the injury.”
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England faced a target of 205 to win the first Test against Sri Lanka after dismissing the tourists for 326 in their second innings on Saturday’s fourth day at Old Trafford.
Kamindu Mendis top-scored for Sri Lanka with 113 — his third hundred in just four Tests — having coming in with his side in trouble at 95-4 after they had been in the even worse position of 1-2.
Together with Dinesh Chandimal (79) he shared a seventh-wicket stand of 117 in 30 overs.
But Mendis’s dismissal sparked a collapse. Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for 19 runs, with wicketkeeper Chandimal the last man to fall when he holed out off Matthew Potts.
Durham paceman Potts, recalled after England captain Ben Stokes was ruled out with a torn hamstring, took 3-47 in 17.3 overs.
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