Mark Wood Eyes Durham Comeback Ahead of Ashes Tour to Australia

England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to make his long-awaited return to competitive cricket next month with Durham in the County Championship, as he targets full fitness ahead of England’s Ashes campaign in Australia this November.

Wood, 35, has been sidelined for the past six months following knee surgery to repair medial ligament damage in his left knee, an issue that worsened during the 2025 Champions Trophy. Although the operation was successful, his recovery took longer than initially expected, forcing him to miss the entire home Test series against India this summer.

He had initially hoped to return for the fifth Test at The Oval but suffered a setback during training at Lord’s before the third Test, which required fluid to be drained from his knee. As a result, he was also omitted from England’s limited-overs squads for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa and Ireland in September.

Wood is now aiming to play in one or two of Durham’s final three matches in Division One, as the county fights to avoid relegation. While his participation in the match against Essex on September 8 remains unlikely, he is expected to feature against Worcestershire on September 15, with a potential appearance against Yorkshire on September 24 depending on how his knee responds.

"I'm hoping to play for Durham as there are a couple of games in September," Wood said on the Stick to Cricket podcast. "The injury is alright. It was fifty-fifty 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. I had it drained and since then it's just been about taking things easy looking ahead to the winter."

Despite his lengthy injury history, Wood remains one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket. He was England’s standout bowler during the last Ashes tour in 2021-22, claiming 17 wickets at an average of 26.64. He also made a significant impact in the 2023 home Ashes, taking 14 wickets at 20.21 in the final three Tests, helping England recover from a 2-0 deficit to draw the series 2-2.

Keen to build up match fitness before the Ashes, Wood requested game time from England head coach Brendon McCullum, citing the mental toll of extended net sessions.

"I said to Baz [McCullum], I can't just bowl to a net for four months, I'll go insane," Wood said. "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."

England are managing Wood’s return carefully, aware of his injury-prone history but valuing his experience and raw pace, especially in Australian conditions. His return would bolster an already promising pace attack, with Jofra Archer returning to Test cricket this summer, and Olly Stone, Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson all in contention. Tongue has been a standout performer in The Hundred, taking 14 wickets, while Sonny Baker has also emerged as a potential candidate.

Chris Woakes remains a concern for the Ashes after dislocating his left shoulder during the final Test against India. The allrounder has opted for rehabilitation over surgery in a bid to recover in time for the tour.

England’s Ashes series kicks off at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 21, with Wood hoping to be part of the squad that travels early to acclimatise and prepare for one of the most anticipated series in the cricketing calendar.