🔗 Share this article England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Expresses Quiet Confidence for Ashes First Test Wood has been absent from Test cricket for over a year. England's fast bowler Mark Wood has stated he feels "quietly confident" about his fitness for the opening match of cricket's greatest rivalry in Australia. Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan last winter and underwent surgery for a knee issue in March. That tournament and India series which came before was the 35-year-old's return from an elbow injury which sidelined him since August 2024. "The summer was disappointing," Wood stated. "I was unable to participate in any cricket and my knee sometimes, when you think I was nearly fit, it wasn't fully recovered." "I got knocked back a couple of times, but during the training camp progress has been positive. We've used the radar gun and the pace is getting up there." The first match of the series starts on 21 November in Perth, with England seeking victory in their first Test series in Australia in over a decade. "Hopefully, I'm in form, delivering effectively in the practice games and in net sessions, and can put my hand up for the first Test," Wood continued, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka over a year back. "The rehab hasn't just been a smooth process, it's been a bit up and down, but now I'm in a better place and hope to push forward toward the match." "I never want to give an answer where I say, 'Yes, I'm pumped, I'm set'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and more optimistic, so I'm quietly confident." Australian Fitness Concerns At the same time, worries for Australia over the fitness of squad members has resulted in all-rounder Cameron Green making way for Marnus Labuschagne for the three-match one-day series against India, beginning this weekend. The Aussies also have concerns over the condition of skipper Pat Cummins, who's been absent since July because of lumbar bone stress in his back. "Cameron Green has been ruled out for the India series having experienced mild side discomfort at training this week," Cricket Australia said. "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 is scheduled to start October 28th.