'so Far, So Good' - Wood Out To Show Ashes Fitness

Bowler Mark Wood says he has "pulled up really well" from England's first days training successful Australia arsenic he bids to beryllium fresh for nan first Ashes Test.

England's squad arrived successful Perth connected Sunday and person trained this week arsenic they hole for nan bid which originates connected 21 November.

Wood has not played a Test for 15 months and has not played immoderate competitory cricket since knee room connected an wounded suffered astatine nan Champions Trophy successful February.

"It is very difficult to train astatine 100% each of nan time, but I person been disconnected my afloat run-up and trying to up nan strength arsenic I spell along," Wood, 35, said.

"I americium hoping successful nan believe crippled I tin up it a small much again and gradually get fresh for that first game."

Wood is England's quickest bowler and is expected to beryllium important to their hopes of winning nan Ashes for nan first clip since 2015.

He and skipper Ben Stokes are nan only members of England's bowling group to person played a Test down under.

While Wood has many times flooded his vulnerable assemblage to return from injuries pinch awesome effect passim his career, this comeback has not been straightforward.

He had hoped to beryllium fresh for nan 5th Test against India successful early August earlier a setback and was near retired of each of England's white-ball matches, against South Africa successful September and nan circuit of New Zealand which ended past week, to prioritise nan Ashes.

Plans for Wood to play successful nan County Championship for Durham successful September were besides shelved.

Instead, Wood has built up his fittingness successful nan nets astatine Durham, astir England matches astatine training and successful nan shelter astatine nan National Cricket Centre successful Loughborough, which England person utilized to replicate Australian conditions.

Wood said he hopes to proceed his activity successful training and past play successful England's only warm-up fixture earlier nan first Test - a lucifer against England Lions successful Perth, which originates adjacent Wednesday.

"I person trained for 2 aliases 3 days and pulled up really well," said Wood.

"Going into nan believe game, that will beryllium different bully trial again but truthful acold truthful good."

On his comeback, Wood added: "[It was] really boring for six months and it was ne'er a consecutive trajectory.

"There were immoderate bits I was not doing arsenic good and I had to build it up again. It is yet bully to beryllium extracurricular successful immoderate bully upwind ramping it up."

England's squad has been welcomed to Australia pinch dispute headlines from nan section media pinch nan West Australian Newspaper calling Stokes "Cocky Captain Complainer".

Wood said he has not paid immoderate attraction to nan coverage.

"That's each portion of it," Wood said.

"I haven't taken overmuch announcement of newspapers, but nan reception we person had successful wide from Australians has been great.

"In nan edifice and retired and astir successful Perth everyone has been very friends and is excited for nan series."