🔗 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 "quietly confident" about his fitness for the first Test of cricket's greatest rivalry in Australia. Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat against Afghanistan last winter and had an operation on a left knee injury in March. That tournament and tour of India which came before marked his comeback after an elbow problem that had kept him out for many months. "It was a frustrating summer," Wood explained. "I didn't get to play any matches and my knee sometimes, when you think I was nearly fit, it wasn't fully recovered." "I got knocked back on several occasions, but during the training camp progress has been positive. We've used the radar gun and my speed is increasing." The first match of the series starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia in over a decade. "With luck, I'll be performing well, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can make my case for that game [Ashes opener]," Wood continued, who last played a Test versus Sri Lanka over a year back. "My recovery wasn't a smooth process, it's been a bit up and down, but now I'm in a better place where i'm hoping to kick on toward the match." "I never want to give an answer where I say, 'Yes, I'm pumped, I'm ready'. I feel assured at the minute and more optimistic, so I'm quietly confident." Australia's Fitness Concerns Meanwhile, worries for Australia regarding the health of squad members have led to player Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series against India, which starts on Sunday. The Aussies also have concerns over the condition of skipper Pat Cummins, who has not played since mid-year due to a back injury affecting his spine. "Cameron Green has been ruled out of the [India] series after suffering low-grade side soreness during recent practice," Cricket Australia said. "Green will complete a short period of rehabilitation and is expected to be back for the third round of the Sheffield Shield to continue his preparation for the Ashes." The third round of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition begins October 28th.