🔗 Share this article English Paceman Mark Wood Reveals Reserved Optimism for The Ashes Series Opener Wood has been absent from Test cricket for over a year. The English fast bowler Mark Wood has stated he feels "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 had an operation on a left knee injury in March. That tournament and India series which came before was the 35-year-old's return from an elbow injury which sidelined him for many months. "The summer was disappointing," Wood explained. "I was unable to participate in any matches and my knee, at times, when it seemed I was nearly fit, it wasn't fully recovered." "I got knocked back a couple of times, but during the training camp it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and my speed is increasing." The first match of the series begins November 21st at Perth, with England seeking victory in their initial series win on Australian soil in over a decade. "With luck, I'll be performing well, delivering effectively during warm-up matches and in the nets, and can make my case for that game [Ashes opener]," Wood continued, who last played a Test was against Sri Lanka over a year back. "My recovery wasn't a straight curve, it's been a bit up and down, but now I'm in a better place and hope to push forward for that game." "I never want to give an answer where I say, 'I'm fully ready, I'm ready'. I feel assured currently and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm cautiously hopeful." Australia's Fitness Concerns At the same time, worries for Australia regarding the health of squad members has resulted in all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series with India, which starts on Sunday. The Aussies also have doubts about the fitness of skipper Pat Cummins, who's been absent since mid-year due to a back injury in his back. "Cameron Green has been ruled out for the India series having experienced low-grade side soreness at training this week," the cricket board stated. "He will undergo a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return for the third round of domestic cricket to further prepare for the series." The third round of the Sheffield Shield tournament begins on 28 October.