Wood Targets Durham Return In England Ashes Boost

England accelerated bowler Mark Wood says he hopes to play for Durham adjacent period arsenic he attempts to return from wounded successful clip for this winter's Ashes bid successful Australia.

Wood, 35, a important portion of England's hopes to triumph successful Australia, has not played since February aft room connected a knee wounded suffered astatine nan Champions Trophy successful Pakistan.

He had hoped to return for nan 5th Test against India earlier this period earlier a setback. He was besides near retired of nan squad for adjacent month's white-ball matches against South Africa and Ireland arsenic England prioritised nan wintertime ahead.

"The wounded is each right," Wood told nan Stick to Cricket podcast.

"It was 50-50 whether I was going to make nan India Test but I was bowling astatine Lord's and then, nan adjacent day, my knee swelled up again truthful I had it drained and since past it's conscionable been astir taking things easy looking up to nan winter."

Wood's value to England bid to triumph nan Ashes for nan first clip since 2015 cannot beryllium overstated.

They want a group of bowlers tin of generating precocious gait successful Australia and Wood, who has had a number of wounded issues passim his career, is nan quickest of their options, which besides see Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson.

Should Chris Woakes neglect to retrieve from his enarthrosis wounded aliases beryllium omitted, Wood whitethorn besides beryllium nan only frontline bowler successful England's squad who has played a Test successful Australia. He took 17 wickets crossed 4 Tests connected nan 2021-22 tour, including 9 successful nan 5th Test successful Hobart.

Durham person 3 County Championship matches near this play - against Essex from 8 September, astatine location to Worcestershire connected 15 September and distant to Yorkshire connected 24 September.

"I'll effort and play 1 aliases 2 of those," Wood said.

"I've been good looked aft and very cautious.

"I worth it arsenic they've sewage this extremity crippled wherever they want maine to get to Australia.

"But I said to [England coach Brendon McCullum] Baz McCullum I can't conscionable vessel to a nett for 4 months, I'll spell insane.

"There's a bowling campy successful Loughborough successful a shelter - getting acclimatised location fresh for Perth - past I'll spell complete to Perth early pinch a mates of bowlers.

"We'll get astir a week early to hole and get acclimatised."

The Ashes originates successful Perth connected 21 November.