England pacer Mark Wood says he is relishing the excitement of bowling again after enduring a challenging six months of rehabilitation following knee surgery. The right-arm quick is now fully fit and eager to be at his freshest ahead of the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium in Perth, scheduled to begin in a fortnight.
Wood featured in four of the five Tests during England’s last Ashes tour in 2021–22, where he claimed 17 wickets, including a career-best 6 for 37 in the final Test at Hobart. However,
he missed the opportunity to play in Perth on that tour due to Western Australia’s strict Covid-19 protocols.
The 35-year-old’s express pace and steep bounce were instead showcased later during England’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2022, where he played a key role in their success. Now, with his fitness restored, Wood is determined to make a strong impact on Australian soil, particularly at Perth, a venue known for assisting fast bowlers.
"It was rapid. I'm not sure my back is looking forward to it, but my bowling is definitely looking forward to it,” said Wood as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Wood’s ability to consistently reach speeds of up to 155 kph remains a key component of England’s strategy as they aim to end a run of three one-sided Ashes series defeats in Australia, stretching back to their last triumph in 2010–11. Speaking about England’s approach, Wood also shared his thoughts on the team’s contingency plans should their all-out pace policy fail to deliver the desired results.
"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 Wood.
I’m not at 100 percent yet: Wood
Wood has successfully fought back from multiple injuries in the past, but he is unlikely to hit full throttle until he takes the field. England’s upcoming warm-up fixture against the England Lions next week will provide him with a crucial opportunity to test his match fitness before the Ashes opener.
"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 with 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 Wood.
We can click on with less practice: Wood
England have faced heavy criticism for their limited number of warm-up games ahead of the Ashes, especially in contrast to the intense preparation they undertook during their successful 2010-11 tour. However, Wood said he is not concerned by the reduced buildup, citing England’s unexpected victory in the first Test against India in Hyderabad two winters ago as evidence of the team’s ability to perform strongly in series openers despite minimal match practice.
"The schedule is the schedule, I'm happy with what we've done. In India recently, we didn't have many games there, and we went straight into that and managed to win that first game. 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 into 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,” said Wood.
It was boring to bowl by myself: Wood
Either way, Wood noted that England’s outdoor training sessions at Lilac Hill have been a significant upgrade from the cold conditions back home. Much of his earlier preparation had taken place inside a heated tent on the outfield, designed to simulate the warm and humid conditions expected in Australia.
"It was boring to start with, bowling by myself, but to now bowl in front of the batters, it's exciting. It's now feeling like the start of the tour, and I'm feeling that excitement building to the first game. When I was running on the treadmill at home, I was visualising the stadium and my run-up, and using the experience of playing here before. It certainly helped the motivation, when I was running in a cool, dark garage at home. Gearing up for being here, I'm so much more aligned to it now,” said Wood.
"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," he added.
English fans will be behind us: Wood
England’s arrival in Perth has already generated a wave of headlines, including one from The West Australian newspaper, which described captain Ben Stokes as ‘England’s Cocky Captain Complainer’. Wood, however, said the squad has taken the pre-series hype in stride, remaining focused on their preparations and unfazed by external noise ahead of the Ashes opener.
"It's been great. That's all part of it. I haven't taken much notice of newspapers and things, but the reception we've had in general from Australians has been great. Out and about in the hotel and around Perth, everyone's been very friendly, and everyone's excited for the series. It's a big build-up, and there's obviously huge amounts of press around it which makes it more exciting. There's a lot of English coming … Back home, I walked down the street and it seemed like every man from England's coming across. So I think the Barmy Army will be in full voice and right behind us," Wood concluded.
