🔗 Share this article England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Expresses Quiet Confidence for Ashes First Test The bowler has been absent from Test cricket for over a year. The English fast bowler Mark Wood says he is "cautiously optimistic" about his fitness for the opening match of the Ashes series down under. The cricketer has been sidelined since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan in February and underwent surgery on a left knee injury in March. The Champions Trophy and tour of India that preceded it was the 35-year-old's return after an elbow problem which sidelined him for many months. "It was a frustrating summer," Wood explained. "I was unable to participate in any matches and my knee sometimes, when it seemed that you're just about ready, it was not just quite there." "I faced setbacks on several occasions, but during the training camp it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there." The opener of the series starts on 21 November at Perth, with England seeking victory in their first Test series on Australian soil in over a decade. "Hopefully, I'm in form, delivering effectively during warm-up matches and in net sessions, and can put my hand up for the first Test," Wood continued, who last played a Test versus Sri Lanka over a year back. "The rehab hasn't just been a smooth process, 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 avoid making statements claiming, 'Yes, I'm pumped, 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 regarding the health of squad members have led to player Cameron Green making way for Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series against India, beginning this weekend. Australia already have doubts about the fitness of skipper Pat Cummins, who has not played since July due to a back injury affecting his spine. "Cameron Green has been ruled out for the India series having experienced mild side discomfort during recent practice," the cricket board stated. "He will undergo a short period of rehabilitation and is expected to be back for the third round of the Sheffield Shield to further prepare for the series." Round three of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition begins on 28 October.