England’s pace bowlers Wood and Archer may miss parts of the Ashes due to injury and fitness concerns.

Former Australian cricketer Merv Hughes has raised concerns about England’s fast bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer potentially struggling to complete a full five-Test Ashes series starting November 21 in Perth. Hughes cited their injury histories, limited recent match play, and the physical demands of Australia’s hard pitches as key worries. Wood, sidelined since August 2024 due to a knee injury, is uncertain about his availability, while Archer, with no prior Test experience in Australia and also recovering from injuries, faces challenges adapting to the conditions. England has backup options in Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, and Gus Atkinson, but the series’ outcome may hinge on managing the pace attack’s fitness.