England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Reveals Quiet Confidence for Ashes Opener
The bowler has been absent from Test cricket for over a year.
England's pace spearhead Mark Wood says he is "quietly confident" about his fitness for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.
The cricketer has been sidelined since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan in February and had an operation on a left knee injury this spring.
The Champions Trophy and tour of India which came before was the 35-year-old's return after an elbow problem that had kept him out for many months.
"The summer was disappointing," Wood stated. "I was unable to participate in any cricket 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 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 starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their initial series win in Australia in over a decade.
"Hopefully, I'm in form, bowling well in the practice games and in net sessions, and can put my hand up for the first Test," added Wood, whose last Test outing versus Sri Lanka 14 months ago.
"My recovery wasn't a straight curve, it's been a bit up and down, but now I'm in a better place where i'm hoping to kick on for that game."
"I avoid making statements claiming, 'Yes, I'm pumped, I'm ready'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and more optimistic, so I'm quietly confident."
Australia's Fitness Concerns
Meanwhile, worries for Australia over the fitness of players have led to all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series with India, which starts on Sunday.
The Aussies also have concerns over the condition of captain Pat Cummins, who has not played since mid-year because of lumbar bone stress affecting his spine.
"Green is unavailable for the India series having experienced low-grade side soreness at training this week," the cricket board stated.
"He will undergo a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return for the third round of domestic cricket to continue his preparation for the series."
Round three of the Sheffield Shield tournament is scheduled to start on 28 October.
