LONDON — England fast bowler Mark Wood has been passed fit for next week's Third Test against South Africa at The Oval after scans revealed no serious injury on his left heel.

Wood has been blighted by injuries throughout his career, with ankle problems keeping him out of Test cricket for nearly two years from October 2015, with the seamer only making his comeback at Lord's two weeks ago.

The 27-year-old sat out some of South Africa's second innings after suffering from soreness while bowling during England's humbling 340-run Second Test defeat at Trent Bridge.

But the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Wednesday that Wood is available for next week — if selected. Wood's availability provides a timely boost for England with batsman Gary Ballance ruled out of the Third Test with a broken finger.

The Yorkshire player saw a hand surgeon in Leeds on Tuesday after suffering the injury in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

The left-hander will be monitored by England's medical team and could be ready for next month's final Test at Old Trafford, after the third Test at the Oval starting on July 27.

The selectors will name their squad for The Oval on Friday or Saturday with at least one enforced change required due to Ballance's injury. The four-Test series is currently level at 1-1.

Bracewell to quit as Ireland coach

New Zealander John Bracewell will step down as head coach of Ireland at the end of his contract in December, the country's cricket board has said.

The former New Zealand coach replaced West Indian Phil Simmons at the helm following the 2015 World Cup and will step down after two and half years in the role.

Last month, the International cricket Council (ICC) voted to admit Afghanistan and Ireland into the elite group permitted to play traditional five-day Test matches.

As new full members of the ICC, Ireland and Afghanistan will take the total of countries playing Tests to 12.

"Having been down the full-on Full Member road before with New Zealand cricket, it is not my desire to do so again," Bracewell said in a statement from cricket Ireland.

"Whilst my wife and I have immersed ourselves into Ireland and Irish culture, we feel it is now time to return home to New Zealand and our families. I have therefore agreed with cricket Ireland to finish up at the conclusion of my contract."

The board said it would advertise the position of head coach in due course to ensure a seamless transition. The former New Zealand cricketer said he thoroughly enjoyed his time with Ireland's cricketers and was "proud" to have been part of their journey towards attaining tests status.

"I took on the role as Head Coach because I believed in the little guy getting a fair break and the cause of attaining test status appealed to my underdog psyche," the 59-year-old said. — Agencies

"That having been achieved, albeit by an unexpected turn of events, has left me looking for a new goal and challenge.

"Before my departure there are still a mountain of things to be put in place in assisting (performance director) Richard Holdsworth and the coaching staff in preparing the Irish players for this new, exciting and very tough future." (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien)