🔗 Share this article England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Expresses Quiet Confidence for The Ashes Series First Test The bowler has not played a Test for over a year. The English pace spearhead Mark Wood has stated he feels "quietly confident" of being fit for the opening match of cricket's greatest rivalry in Australia. Wood has not played following a Champions Trophy loss against Afghanistan last winter and had an operation for a knee issue this spring. The Champions Trophy and tour of India that preceded it marked his comeback from an elbow injury that had kept him out since August 2024. "It was a frustrating summer," Wood explained. "I was unable to participate in any cricket and my knee sometimes, when it seemed that you're just about ready, it wasn't fully recovered." "I got knocked back a couple of times, but during the training camp it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there." The opener of the Ashes starts on 21 November at Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series on Australian soil in over a decade. "Hopefully, I'm in form, delivering effectively during warm-up matches and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game [Ashes opener]," added Wood, who last played a Test was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago. "My recovery wasn't a straight curve, it had its ups and downs, but I'm in a good position now where i'm hoping to kick on for that game." "I never want to give an answer where I say, 'I'm fully ready, I'm ready'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and more optimistic, so I'm cautiously hopeful." Australian Fitness Concerns At the same time, worries for Australia over the fitness of players have led to all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the three-match one-day series against India, which starts on Sunday. The Aussies also have concerns over the condition of skipper Pat Cummins, who's been absent since mid-year due to a back injury affecting his spine. "Green is unavailable of the [India] series after suffering low-grade side soreness at training this week," Cricket Australia said. "He will undergo a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return for the third round of domestic cricket to further prepare for the Ashes." Round three of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition begins October 28th.