Mark Wood 'Quietly Confident' of Fitness Ahead of Ashes Opener in Perth
England fast bowler Mark Wood says he is "quietly confident" of being fit and ready to take part in the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21, after a frustrating recovery process from knee surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 English summer.
Wood, who was England’s leading wicket-taker during the 2021–22 Ashes and a standout performer at Headingley in the 2023 series, last played a competitive match in the Champions Trophy in February 2025. His return was initially planned for the final Test against India earlier this year, but recurring knee swelling delayed his comeback.
Now, the 35-year-old is set to join England's white-ball squads in New Zealand next week, although he won’t feature in any matches. Instead, he will use the tour as an opportunity to step up his rehab and bowling workload, having recently trained in a heated marquee at England’s base in Loughborough.
"It was a frustrating summer. I didn’t get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think you're just about ready to play, it was not just quite there," Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast. “I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent it’s been going well. I’ve had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there.”
Setbacks and Recovery
Wood revealed that attempts to return mid-year were thwarted by swelling in his knee, which required repeated draining and ultimately led to him missing Durham's County Championship run-in as well.
"The fifth Test against India, I was so close, and then when I was at my top speed, my knee swelled up so I had to have it drained," he said. "Then again at the back end of the year with Durham, I was so close to playing a game, but again, I just kept getting this slight swelling. The ECB were like, 'Look, it’s a risk we don’t need to take.'”
However, recent training sessions have been more encouraging. "Thankfully, the last few times I’ve bowled, there hasn’t been that swelling there. It’s much more positive," he added.
Ashes Focus and Coaching Ambitions
While Wood is not making bold declarations about his readiness, he is optimistic: “I never want to give an answer where I say, ‘Yes, I’m pumped, I’m ready’. But I’m in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I’m quietly confident.”
In addition to his rehabilitation, Wood has used his time away from playing to begin preparing for life after cricket. He’s currently pursuing his Level Three coaching qualification, working alongside a group that includes former England teammates Steven Finn, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, and Sarah Taylor. He also spent time this summer assisting the England Lions as part of his development.
If fit, Wood would add a valuable dimension to England’s pace attack as they aim to regain the Ashes in Australia. His express pace and ability to strike in short bursts have proved pivotal in past series, and his return could be a major boost to Ben Stokes’ side.