Mark Wood 'quietly confident' about fitness ahead of Ashes opener
Key Takeaways
- Mark Wood is quietly confident he will be fit for the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21.
- He has been sidelined for the entire English summer following knee surgery and subsequent swelling setbacks.
- Wood will join England's white-ball squads in New Zealand next week to continue rehabilitation without playing competitively.
- Despite frustrating delays, Wood reports his pace is returning in training, putting him in a 'good position' for the Ashes.
- During his recovery, Wood has also been studying for his Level Three coaching qualification.
England fast bowler Mark Wood has expressed quiet confidence about being fit for the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21, following a frustrating period recovering from knee surgery. Wood, who was instrumental in the 2023 Ashes series, missed the entire English summer after needing fluid drained from his knee on multiple occasions when nearing a comeback. He had initially hoped to feature in the fifth Test against India but faced further setbacks that required caution from the ECB. Wood is set to join England's white-ball squads in New Zealand next week to continue his rehabilitation, bowling in nets but not competing in matches. He noted that while the rehab has been 'up and down' and 'annoying,' his pace is returning in training, leading him to feel positive about his readiness for the crucial Australian leg of the cricket calendar. Additionally, Wood has been using his downtime this summer to work on his post-playing career by pursuing his Level Three coaching qualification.
