Mark Wood says he is "quietly confident" that he will be fit and ready to perform in the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21.

Wood was England's leading wicket-taker in their 4-0 loss in the 2021-22 Ashes and blew Australia away with his pace to be named player of the match at Headingley in the 2023 series . But he has not bowled in a competitive match since the Champions Trophy in February, missing the entire English summer after surgery on his knee.

He had initially targeted the fifth Test of England's Test series against India for a potential comeback and was seen bowling with international team-mates in the nets throughout the summer. However, he reported swelling which required fluid to be drained from his knee. A similar setback saw him miss out on Durham's County Champions

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