'The pace is getting...': Mark Wood provides major update about his fitness ahead of The Ashes

England pacer Mark Wood hasn't played a Test match for over a year now and this is due to issues with his fitness. The 35-year-old missed the entirety of England's summer fixtures due to a knee surgery that kept him out of action for months. His last appearance in international cricket came in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy where he played in the match against Afghanistan.

Wood included in England's squad for Ashes

After an improvement in his knee condition, Wood was picked in England's squad for The Ashes. Though it was still unclear Wood was 100% fit or not, the pacer has now himself broken his silence on the matter. He remarked that he is getting his pace back up and is keen on making his international return in the upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand that will commence from October 18.

"It was a frustrating summer. I didn't get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think that you're just about ready to play, it was not just quite there," Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast.

"I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there, so I'm building nicely into New Zealand first, and then the Australian leg," he added.

Wood confident about recovering in time

Wood is also hopeful about being back in form in the practice games and net sessions that will be held ahead of the opening Ashes Test. He further added that he is confident about being fit in time for the first Test against Australia that will commence from Novmeber 21 in Perth.

"Hopefully, I'm in form, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game [in Perth]. The rehab hasn't just been a straight curve. It's been a bit up and down, but I'm in a good position now where I'm hoping to kick on for that game," Wood stated.

"I never want to give an answer where I say, 'Yes, I'm pumped, I'm ready'. But I'm in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm quietly confident," he further added.

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England's squad for The Ashes: Ben Stokes (captain), Harry Brook (vice-captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.