“Australia are favourites, but we’re confident”: Mark Wood ahead of Ashes

Overview

• The much-awaited five-match Ashes series is set to begin on November 21 in Perth.
• Mark Wood said that while Australia will start as favourites.
• But there’s quite a confidence within the visitors to perform well. 

The much-awaited five-match Ashes series is set to begin on November 21 in Perth. Ahead of the series, England pacer Mark Wood said that while Australia will start as favourites, there’s quite a confidence within the visitors to perform well.

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In an exclusive chat with ESPNCricinfo, Wood said: “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.”

Wood is making a comeback to the England squad after a lengthy knee injury layoff. However, questions remain over his fitness, and the upcoming warm-up match next week will be a key opportunity for him to test his match readiness. England will play against England Lions in a three-day warm-up clash from November 13-15 at Lilac Hill in Perth.

"I wouldn't say I'm at 100%," - Wood

"I wouldn't say I'm at 100%," he admitted. “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 in the practice game coming up, I can try and up it a little bit more again and gradually get ready for that first game."

Talking about the team’s preparation and build-up, Wood said he is focused on being fresh for the series opener in Perth.

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“We’re going to have been here for two or three weeks as a group. That’s a good enough build-up to that first game in my eyes,” he said. “I suppose everybody’s different, and some people might want more but, for myself, I want to feel fresh going in 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.”