'Ground me down': Ashes winner retires from international cricket

Mark Wood, one of England's fastest ever bowlers, has announced his retirement from international cricket.

The 36-year-old paceman played 38 Test matches over an 11-year England career, taking 119 wickets.

"My stats won't read I was the best bowler ever – but I hope my teammates think I was someone who tried my best every time," he said.

Wood last played for England in an eight-wicket loss against Australia in the first Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series.

He made 70 one-day international appearances and was part of England's 50-over World Cup-winning squad in 2019.

The Northumberland-born bowler played 38 T20Is and was in the England squad which won the World Cup in 2022, although injury ruled him out of the semi-final and the final.

Injuries ultimately cost Wood more caps, and a knee problem has prompted him to call time on his international career.

"When you speak to other people, they say it hits you in the face, there's a big feeling around that being it, 'you're done'," he told Sky Sports.

"I've never really had that, I love playing cricket, I love playing for England, that's been something I've felt really strongly about and proud to do. But I've had a lot of injuries.

"I've always found a way where I've believed I'd come back and had that resilience where I'm going to come back again, or I'll be better, or I'll prove somebody wrong again, but this time it's just ground me down really.

"It's been a long time since Perth, that was in November 2025 my last game, so it's been a year really where it's just sort of ground me down to thinking I'm never going to get back to that level.

"Plus the contract situation. My contract ends in September, and I think it just feels like the right time.

"I never really wanted to give up England, but the lads that are coming through are doing a fantastic job and the news should be about the lads going to get their contracts and I can just focus on other things."

Arguably England's fastest-ever bowler, Wood clocked 97.7mph (157.2 kph) in the 2021-22 Ashes series.

He took the final wicket at Trent Bridge when England regained the urn in 2015.

England managing director Rob Key said: "It's been a privilege to watch the latter part of a great career.

"To have been a point of difference in Ashes series wins, a World Cup, and to have thrilled crowds every time he got the ball in his hand is something very few players achieve.

"He can look back with enormous pride on a career very well spent."