Mark Wood, the England fast bowler, will not take part in IPL 2022 for Lucknow Super Giants, and will miss the remainder of England's Test tour of the Caribbean, after picking up a right elbow injury during the first Test against West Indies in North Sound last week.
The ECB said in a statement Wood "will return to the UK next week for a specialist opinion regarding the management of his injury" and "will have an indefinite break from cricket until more information is determined from the elbow specialist". The team management will decide whether a replacement is required, with the third Test in Grenada due to begin on March 24. Warwickshire's Liam Norwell is the likely addition.*
Super Giants are yet to identify a replacement in their squad. Wood had been picked by them for INR 7.5 crore (USD 1 million approx.) at the mega IPL auction in February.
His participation in the IPL became doubtful once he had walked out of the drawn first Test last week after delivering just 17 overs because of an impingement in his right elbow. Wood, who had managed to bowl just five overs on the third morning before exiting the field, had attempted to take a fitness test - bowling six deliveries in the nets - before the start of play on the fifth day, but suffered "acute pain".
For Super Giants, the loss of Wood is bound to heavily disrupt their plans, given the limited overseas options in their squad. West Indies allrounder Jason Holder, Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis and Sri Lanka quick Dushmantha Chameera are the other overseas fast bowlers on their roster, but Holder and Stoinis will miss the start of their campaign given West Indies and Australia are engaged in bilateral series against England and Pakistan respectively. West Indies' Test series against England is scheduled to finish only on March 28 - the day of Super Giants' first match, against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans. Australia's white-ball series against Pakistan run into the first week of April.
Chameera had missed the two-match India Test series recently due to an ankle injury, but has recovered and is available for selection.
The other overseas players on Super Giants' roster are Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis and Kyle Mayers - Mayers is currently part of West Indies' squad for the second Test against England.
*12.05pm GMT, March 18: The article was updated after the ECB statement came out.