new delhi, Aug 28
England fast bowler Mark Wood is eyeing a county return next month as he looks to prove his fitness for the highly-anticipated Ashes series in Australia later this year. Wood, who last featured in a Test in August 2023, has been working his way back from the knee injury he sustained at the ICC Champions Trophy in February. The 35-year-old revealed he was close to making a comeback during the final Test against India this summer, but a setback in training forced him to delay his return.
“The injury is all right,” Wood said on the Stick to Cricket podcast. “It was 50-50 whether I was going to make the India Test but I was bowling at Lord’s and then, the next day, my knee swelled up again so I had it drained and since then it’s just been about taking things easy looking ahead to the winter.” Wood’s fitness will be vital to England’s chances of securing their first Ashes series win in Australia since 2011. He is expected to play a key role alongside fellow pacers Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, and possibly Chris Woakes, who is also battling fitness issues. The Durham quick impressed in the last Ashes series, claiming 14 wickets from just three Tests, and is now targeting at least one county outing next month to prove his readiness for the tour. Durham are scheduled to face Essex (September 8), Worcestershire (September 15) and Yorkshire (September 24), and Wood is eager to use those matches as a springboard.
“I’ll try and play one or two of those matches,” Wood said. “I’ve been well looked after and very cautious. I value it as they’ve got this end game where they want me to get to Australia. But I said to (England coach Brendon McCullum) Baz McCullum I can’t just bowl to a net for four months, I’ll go insane.”
Wood added that he will also be part of England’s preparations at a bowling camp in Loughborough before heading to Australia. “There’s a bowling camp in Loughborough in a tent – getting acclimatised there ready for Perth – then I’ll go over to Perth early with a couple of bowlers. We’ll arrive about a week early to prepare and get acclimatised,” he added.
After the first Ashes Test in Perth from November 21, the teams will head to Brisbane for the second Test, starting December 4 before assembling at Adelaide for the third Test, from December 17. The penultimate match will start on Boxing Day at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground before the New Year’s Test begins in Sydney from January 4.
