🔗 Share this article England's Paceman Mark Wood Expresses Reserved Optimism for The Ashes Series Opener Wood has been absent from Test cricket since August 2024. The English pace spearhead Mark Wood says he is "quietly confident" about his fitness for the opening match of the Ashes series in Australia. The cricketer has been sidelined since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan last winter and had an operation for a knee issue this spring. That tournament and India series which came before was the 35-year-old's return from an elbow injury which sidelined him for many months. "The summer was disappointing," Wood stated. "I didn't get to play any matches and my knee, at times, 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] it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there." The first match of the Ashes begins November 21st in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series on Australian soil in over a decade. "Hopefully, I'm in form, bowling well during warm-up matches and in the nets, and can make my case for that game [Ashes opener]," Wood continued, who last played a Test versus Sri Lanka 14 months ago. "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 where i'm hoping to kick on toward the match." "I never want to give an answer where I say, 'I'm fully ready, I'm set'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and more optimistic, so I'm quietly confident." Australia's Injury Worries At the same time, worries for Australia regarding the health of players have led to all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series against India, which starts on Sunday. The Aussies also have doubts about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who has not played since July due to a back injury in his back. "Cameron Green has been ruled out of the [India] series after suffering mild side discomfort at training this week," Cricket Australia said. "Green will complete a brief rehab stint and is tracking to return for the third round of the Sheffield Shield to further prepare for the Ashes." The third round of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition is scheduled to start on 28 October.