English Paceman Mark Wood Expresses Reserved Optimism for The Ashes Series First Test
The bowler has been absent from Test cricket for over a year.
England's pace spearhead Mark Wood says he is "cautiously optimistic" about his fitness for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.
Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan last winter and had an operation for a knee issue this spring.
The Champions Trophy and India series which came before marked his comeback from an elbow injury that had kept him out since August 2024.
"It was a frustrating summer," Wood explained. "I didn't get to play any matches and my knee sometimes, when you think that you're just about ready, it was not just quite there."
"I faced setbacks a couple of times, but in the tent [training camp] progress has been positive. We've used the radar gun and my speed is increasing."
The first match of the series starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series on Australian soil in over a decade.
"With luck, I'll be performing well, delivering effectively in the practice games and in the nets, and can make my case for the first Test," added Wood, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka over a year back.
"The rehab hasn't just been a straight curve, it had its ups and downs, but now I'm in a better place where i'm hoping to kick on toward the match."
"I avoid making statements claiming, 'I'm fully ready, I'm set'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm cautiously hopeful."
Australia's Fitness Concerns
At the same time, worries for Australia over the fitness of squad members has resulted in player Cameron Green making way for Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series with India, which starts on Sunday.
The Aussies also have doubts about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who's been absent since July due to a back injury in his back.
"Cameron Green has been ruled out for the India series having experienced low-grade side soreness at training this week," the cricket board stated.
"Green will complete a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return for the third round of the Sheffield Shield to further prepare for the Ashes."
The third round of the Sheffield Shield tournament begins October 28th.
