England fast bowler Mark Wood has revealed he's considering life after cricket if his latest knee injury recovery doesn't progress successfully. The 36-year-old returned to Test cricket for the 2025-26 Ashes series after 15 months out with elbow and knee problems but managed just 11 overs in the first Test before being ruled out of the tour.

Wood described his recovery as a 'fine balance' where pushing too hard could end his career prematurely. The Durham bowler explained his rehabilitation follows six-week specialist blocks with regular scans, showing improvement since what he called an 'explosion' in his knee during the Ashes. He's now begun running and hopes to start light bowling in the next phase.

Wood has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including multiple knee and elbow operations. The bowler admitted he's started thinking about post-cricket opportunities like coaching and podcasts while focusing on recovery. Having taken 119 wickets in 38 Tests since his 2015 debut, Wood won the 2019 50-over World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup, establishing himself as one of England's fastest and most impactful bowlers.