Lucknow Super Giants pace spearhead Mark Wood is set to miss the final stages of the IPL to attend the birth of his second child next month.
The right-arm England quick has featured in four games for the Super Giants, snaring 11 wickets at an economy of 8.12. He has, however, missed the Super Giants’ last two clashes due to illness.
“Wood and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May. Wood will fly home at some point in the coming weeks in order to be present at the birth,” a report in ESPNCricinfo stated.
The league phase of the IPL ends on May 21 with the playoffs on May 23, 24 and 26 ahead of the final on May 28.
England are also scheduled to play a one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s from June 1, just a few days after the IPL final. England’s Test captain Ben Stokes had earlier said that he may also miss the final stages of the IPL to prepare for the one-off fixture.
“The ECB does not intend to pull players out of the tournament against their will, having previously indicated to the BCCI and to franchises that they would be available for the full season,” the England and Wales Cricket Board had said in a statement.
The other England players likely to be involved in the Ireland Test are Joe Root, who’s yet to feature for Rajasthan Royals and Harry Brook, the Sunrisers Hyderabad opener.
Mumbai Indians’ pacer Jofra Archer is unlikely to be rushed back to Test cricket as he hasn’t played a first-class game for two years.
Written with inputs from PTI
