🔗 Share this article England's Fast Bowler Mark Wood Reveals Quiet Confidence for The Ashes Series First Test Wood has not played a Test for over a year. England's fast bowler Mark Wood says he is "cautiously optimistic" about his fitness for the first Test of the Ashes series down under. The cricketer has been sidelined following a Champions Trophy loss against Afghanistan in February and had an operation on a left knee injury in March. That tournament and tour of India that preceded it was the 35-year-old's return from an elbow injury which sidelined him for many months. "The summer was disappointing," Wood explained. "I was unable to participate in any matches and my knee sometimes, when it seemed I was nearly fit, it was not just quite there." "I got knocked back a couple of times, but during the training camp it's been going well. We've used the radar gun and my speed is increasing." The first match of the series begins November 21st at Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia in over a decade. "Hopefully, I'm in form, delivering effectively in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for the first Test," added Wood, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka over a year back. "The rehab hasn't just been a straight curve, it had its ups and downs, but now I'm in a better place where i'm hoping to kick on for that game." "I never want to give an answer where I say, 'I'm fully ready, I'm set'. I'm in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm cautiously hopeful." Australia's Fitness Concerns At the same time, Australia's concerns regarding the health of players have led to all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series against India, which starts on Sunday. Australia already have doubts about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who's been absent since July due to a back injury in his back. "Green is unavailable of the [India] series having experienced low-grade side soreness during recent practice," the cricket board stated. "He will undergo a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return to play in round three of domestic cricket to further prepare for the series." Round three of the Sheffield Shield tournament begins October 28th.