Mark Wood Eyes Ashes Comeback, Leaving Rehab Frustrations Behind

Mark Wood is excited for the first Ashes test, as he is eyeing a return to the nets after spending a ‘boring’ long period in rehab. The star England bowler didn’t feature in any international game during the last six months. He missed the home South Africa series, and then the recent New Zealand tour due to spending time in recovery. He made this serious compromise to prepare himself for the Ashes, which is about to begin in a few weeks.

During the last Ashes tour to Australia in 2021, Mark Wood didn’t get the chance to play in Perth. This time, he is looking forward to getting that opportunity, as Perth will suit his bowling style. The England pacer is eager to bowl on the fast, bouncy pitches of Perth on November 21, however, the final decision of his inclusion will depend on the fitness reports.

"I'm not sure my back is looking forward to it, but my bowling is definitely looking forward to it." said Mark Wood when asked how excited he is to feature in the first Ashes test.

The fastest England bowler then said that the team is looking forward to playing at their full potential in the upcoming series. He further added that the England pacers are specifically gearing up to hit high speeds, as they know that bowling on flat Australian pitches with high pace is very important.

"Don't try as hard and bowl 130[kph]? We'll be giving everything we've got. The type of bowlers that we are, I'm not quite sure that it's in us to not give 100%. Whether it's good enough, I don't know, but we'll wait and see. Australia are obviously the favourites going into the series, but I think there's a quiet confidence within our group that we can do well here." said Mark Wood while speaking to the media.

He also said that getting full fitness after a knee surgery is not easy at all. Though he is doing everything to come back at his best, the reality still gives a different picture. The upcoming practice games against the England Lions will give him an opportunity to assess his progress, though his bowling in those matches will also require careful planning.

"I wouldn't say I'm at 100%. I think it's very hard to train 100% all of the time. I've been off my full run-up and stuff, and I've been trying to just up the intensity as I go along. I'm sure in the practice game coming up, I can try and up it a little bit more again and gradually get ready for that first game." said Mark Wood.

Speaking about the schedule, Mark Wood said that England does not have any concerns related to the dates of each game. He feels England have been given adequate time to prepare for the first test, which will start from November 21.

"We're going to have been here, what, two or three weeks as a group. That's a good enough build-up to that first game in my eyes. I suppose everybody's different, and some people might want more but, for myself, I want to feel fresh going in that first game, having done a little bit, but not too much. I want to be mint for that game, and as fresh as I can be. We've got a good depth of bowlers, and if one misses out, he'll be prepared for the next game."

When asked how he managed his recovery period after knee surgery, Mark Wood said that the phase was quite tricky, with several ups and downs. However, he still managed to get through it, as the ambition to feature in the Ashes kept him motivated.

"It was never just a straight trajectory. There were some bits where I wasn't doing as well, and then I had to build it up again. So finally, it's nice to be outside in some nice weather, and ramping it up." said Mark Wood.

The first Ashes test, starting from November 21, is getting closer day by day. Mark Wood is quite confident that England will deliver a strong performance in the series opener by backing their aggressive approach. It would be interesting to see how the return of Mark Wood in the Ashes will play out, because his performances can give England an edge in the series.