England will be without Mark Wood for the remainder of the year on Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand due to an elbow injury.

Having bowled brilliantly against West Indies, Wood was ruled out of the second and third Tests of England’s series against Sri Lanka with a right thigh injury.

But while he has been ruled out, an elbow issue has emerged. Wood struggled with elbow issues in 2022, and had two operations on the joint. He has returned faster than ever, bowling at electric pace in last summer’s Ashes and in three Tests this summer.

Since 2022, the joint has been monitored regularly and during a routine check, the issue emerged. The injury is set to rule the 34-year-old out of the Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand, both of which are three matches long, with February’s Champions Trophy a possible return date. The injury does not require surgery, and he has been prescribed rest.

Taking to social media, Wood said: “Rubbish news. During what I thought was a routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I’ve got some bone stress in my right elbow. After the minor groin injury at Old Trafford, me and the medical team felt it was a good time to get my elbow looked at as it was a bit irritated. I’d put that down to the normal niggles every fast bowler gets and which I was playing through.

“I’m especially surprised because I’ve been playing Test cricket and kept my speeds up. I work incredibly hard on my fitness, putting in extra work with coaches and physios, making this even more disappointing. However, I guess this is, “part of being a fast bowler”, like Stokesy says.

“I will miss the rest of the year needing time to rest and build up, fully expecting to be back and firing in early 2025. I have been down this path before and will put in all the hard yards behind the scenes. I am very proud to represent my country and there is no better feeling. See you for some rockets in 2025!”

Key part of England’s plans for next winter’s Ashes

Wood’s value to England is shown by the three-year central contract they handed him last October, through to the end of 2026. He was England’s best player on the last Ashes tour and is seen as a key weapon on England’s next trip down under in 14 months’ time. Wood’s pace makes him a rare commodity in English cricket, and he has an excellent average of 28 away from home.

England are a little light on pace options for the Pakistan tour. Jofra Archer will not play red-ball cricket until 2025, Josh Tongue has missed the whole Test summer with a pectoral injury and is expected to play for the Lions this winter, while Chris Woakes has not played a Test outside England since March 2022.

Of the seamers who played when England were last in Pakistan, James Anderson has been retired (and will be on the tour in his role as fast-bowling mentor) and Ollie Robinson has been frozen out. There are also doubts about Ben Stokes’s ability to bowl on the tour as he recovers from a nasty hamstring tear.

Gus Atkinson, who has had a superb first summer in Test cricket, could lead the seam attack in Pakistan, with support from the likes of Matt Potts, Olly Stone and even Josh Hull, who was drafted into the squad after Wood was injured and made his debut at the Kia Oval. The likes of Brydon Carse, John Turner and Saqib Mahmood – who are all in white-ball squads this month – could come into contention, too.

It is still not entirely clear if the tour will actually take place in Pakistan as stadiums in Karachi and Rawalpindi are upgraded for the Champions Trophy. Reports suggest at least one Test could be moved to Abu Dhabi. England’s managing director, Rob Key, said they were yet to have the location of the tour confirmed.

“We are no different [in being in the dark],” Key told BBC Test Match Special. “We have our operations team, people waiting to book flights. I have heard Sri Lanka and South Africa. I don’t think it will be there personally. There are rumours flying around.

“My guess is we will end in Multan. None of this is a security issue. I think they are trying to get grounds ready for the Champions Trophy and they are not as far ahead as they think. My guess is we will be in Pakistan – but that is a guess.”