England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Expresses Quiet Confidence for The Ashes Series Opener
Wood has not played a Test for over a year.
England's fast bowler Mark Wood has stated he feels "quietly confident" of being fit for the first Test of the Ashes series down under.
The cricketer has been sidelined since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan last winter and had an operation for a knee issue in March.
The Champions Trophy and India series which came before marked his comeback after an elbow problem that had kept him out for many months.
"It was a frustrating summer," Wood stated. "I was unable to participate in any matches and my knee, at times, when you think I was nearly fit, 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 first match of the series starts on 21 November at Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series on Australian soil since 2010-2011.
"Hopefully, I'm in form, delivering effectively during warm-up matches and in net sessions, and can make my case for the first Test," Wood continued, who last played a Test was against Sri Lanka over a year back.
"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 toward the match."
"I never want to give an answer claiming, 'I'm fully ready, I'm set'. I'm in a confident place currently and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm quietly confident."
Australian Fitness Concerns
At the same time, worries for Australia over the fitness of squad members has resulted in player Cameron Green making way for Marnus Labuschagne for the three-match one-day series against India, beginning this weekend.
The Aussies also have doubts about the fitness of skipper Pat Cummins, who's been absent since July 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," the cricket board stated.
"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 series."
Round three of the Sheffield Shield tournament begins October 28th.
