🔗 Share this article English Fast Bowler Mark Wood Reveals Reserved Optimism for The Ashes Series Opener Wood has been absent from Test cricket 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 since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan last winter and underwent surgery on a left knee injury this spring. The Champions Trophy and India series that preceded it was the 35-year-old's return after an elbow problem which sidelined him for many months. "The summer was disappointing," Wood explained. "I didn't get to play any cricket and my knee sometimes, when you think that you're just about ready, 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 the pace is getting up there." The first match of the series begins November 21st in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia since 2010-2011. "With luck, I'll be performing well, delivering effectively during warm-up matches and in net sessions, and can put my hand up for the first Test," Wood continued, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago. "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 claiming, 'I'm fully ready, I'm set'. I feel assured at the minute and more optimistic, so I'm quietly confident." Australian Fitness Concerns Meanwhile, worries for Australia over the fitness of squad members have led to all-rounder Cameron Green making way for Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series with India, which starts on Sunday. Australia already have concerns over the condition of captain Pat Cummins, who has not played since mid-year because of lumbar bone stress in his back. "Green is unavailable for the India series after suffering low-grade side soreness at training this week," the cricket board stated. "He will undergo a brief rehab stint and is expected to be back to play in round three of domestic cricket to further prepare for the series." The third round of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition is scheduled to start October 28th.