Veteran England seamer Mark Wood is aiming to make a return for the side against Australia in The Ashes which will commence later this year from November 21. He also hopes to participate in a few matches for Durham in the County Championship that will be held in September.
Wood has been on the sidelines from March due to a knee injury. His last appearance for England came in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Afghanistan. The 35-year-old had hoped to return to full fitness ahead of the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India, but eventually failed to recover in time.
The England pacer is now looking to feature for Durham in their upcoming matches against the likes of Essex Worcestershire, and Yorkshire next month. These games will be crucial for Wood as he will be looking to impress the selectors ahead of the Ashes.
ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin to feature in The Hundred next season? Report makes massive claim
“I’m hoping to play for Durham as there are a couple of games in September, so I’ll try and play one or two of those. The injury is alright. It was 50/50 whether I was going to make the India Test, but I was bowling at Lord’s and then, the next day, my knee swelled up again," Wood said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
“I had it drained, and since then, it’s just been about taking things easy, looking ahead to the winter. I’ve been well looked after and very cautious, that’s the way that it’s been. I value it as [England] have got this end game where they want me to get to Australia," he added.
Wood also recalled a conversation he had with Brendon McCullum where he told the England head coach that he will go 'insane' if he continues to just bowl in the nets for months ahead of the highly-important Test series against Australia.
ALSO READ: 'His bat was big...': Mark Wood names this India great as the toughest batter he has ever faced
“I said to [England head coach Brendon] McCullum, I can’t just bowl to a net for four months, I’ll go insane. There’s a bowling camp in Loughborough in a tent – getting acclimatised there, ready for Perth – then I’ll go over to Perth early with a couple of bowlers. We’ll arrive about a week early to prepare and get acclimatised," Wood stated.
England to play multiple white-ball assignments
Meanwhile, England will be participating in white-ball series against the likes of South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand ahead of The Ashes. If Wood manages to impress in County Cricket, then the team management may even call him up for their tour against the Black Caps which will commence from October 18.