England pace bowler Mark Wood will be sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery on his left knee. He had the operation on Wednesday morning in London following scans which revealed damage to his medial ligament. Wood had been struggling with a knee injury for more than a year, which worsened during England's Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan in Lahore. He was taken off the field mid-innings but came back later to finish his spell. He, however, sat out the next game of England against South Africa. The pacer will be missing England's summer's start but plans to be back by the last week of July 2025. In an England Cricket release, Wood added that he was optimistic since his knee is being treated now. šØ We can provide an update on Mark Wood’s fitness following surgery.Read more š — England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 13, 2025 In a statement, Wood said: "I'm gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. But I've got every confidence that I'll be back firing on all cylinders now that I've been able to sort my knee out." He added: "I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support - and, of course, our fans. I can't wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team." Also Read | Mitchell Marsh Will Play in IPL 2025 But as a Specialist Batter Mark Wood Likely to Miss Test Series Against India in June With the operation, Wood may not be available for England's five-match Test series against India, starting on June 20. If he recovers quickly, he may be available for the last Test, but England might not hurry him unless they are short of cover. He is, however, expected to be available for the Ashes in Australia later in the year. He is vital to England if they are going to regain the Ashes after consecutive losses. Wood’s pace and extra bounce make him an important player for England, but his history of injuries remains a concern. There is always a risk of him getting injured again, so England will need to manage his return carefully.