🔗 Share this article England's Paceman Mark Wood Reveals Quiet Confidence for Ashes First Test Wood has been absent from Test cricket since August 2024. The English fast bowler Mark Wood has stated he feels "quietly confident" of being fit for the first Test of cricket's greatest rivalry down under. Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat against Afghanistan in February and underwent surgery on a left knee injury this spring. That tournament and tour of India which came before was the 35-year-old's return from an elbow injury which sidelined him for many months. "It was a frustrating summer," Wood stated. "I didn't get to play any cricket and my knee, at times, when it seemed I was nearly fit, it wasn't fully recovered." "I faced setbacks on several occasions, but during the training camp it's been going well. We've used the radar gun and the pace is getting up there." The opener of the series begins November 21st in Perth, with England seeking victory in their initial series win in Australia 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]," Wood continued, who last played a Test was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago. "The rehab hasn't just been a straight curve, it's been a bit up and down, but now I'm in a better place and hope to push forward for that game." "I avoid making statements claiming, 'I'm fully ready, I'm ready'. I feel assured at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm cautiously hopeful." Australian Fitness Concerns Meanwhile, Australia's concerns over the fitness of squad members has resulted in player Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series with India, which starts on Sunday. Australia already have doubts about the fitness of skipper Pat Cummins, who's been absent since July because of lumbar bone stress affecting his spine. "Green is unavailable for the India series after suffering mild side discomfort at training this week," the cricket board stated. "He will undergo a brief rehab stint and is expected to be back to play in round three of domestic cricket to continue his preparation for the Ashes." Round three of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition is scheduled to start October 28th.