Mark Wood announces England comeback a day after India belt English bowlers

In a recent development, England fast bowler Mark Wood returned to the nets on Friday after recovering from knee surgery. The veteran pacer is eyeing a return in the ongoing Test series against India, led by Shubman Gill, and is targeting a comeback in the fifth and final match of the series.

Mark Wood suffered medial ligament damage to his left knee during the Champions Trophy earlier this year. He underwent surgery in March and was expected to take four months to recover. The much-awaited Test series began with the first match at Headingley in Leeds on Friday, June 20.

I've Just Started Bowling Very Lightly - Mark Wood

Speaking to BBC Test Match Special, the England pacer confirmed that his rehabilitation is progressing well and that he has recently resumed light bowling.

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"Rehab is going well," Wood told BBC Test Match Special. "I've just started bowling very lightly, so I'm on the comeback trail now officially.

"I'm hoping still to play a part in this series, so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against. I'm still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test, I might not get there, but at the minute, that's still my focus that I might play a part."

I Can Play a Part Right at the End of the Series - Mark Wood

Mark Wood is optimistic about making a return for the final Test against India, which is set to begin on July 31 at The Kia Oval. Wood said that the process started off slowly but is now beginning to pick up pace.

"It's been a bit slow [coming back] to start with. I haven't been able to do a lot, but starting to speed up now, getting some bowling in, hopefully not too much longer. [I am] still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I'll just wait and see."

Mark Wood is likely to make his return to competitive cricket on July 22, when he is expected to feature for Durham in their County Championship clash against Somerset.

Wood has taken 119 wickets from 37 Test matches at an average of 30.42, including five five-wicket hauls. However, his record against India has been less impressive, with just 9 wickets in 4 Tests at an average of 50.33.

England to Manage Mark Wood Carefully Ahead of Ashes Tour

England are missing key fast bowlers, including Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, for the ongoing Test series against India. Wood has started his rehabilitation, especially with the Ashes tour of Australia coming up.

Olly Stone has been ruled out for the entire Test summer with a knee injury, and Gus Atkinson missed the series opener against India after picking up a hamstring strain during the Zimbabwe series.

Meanwhile, Archer’s comeback is being closely managed. The England camp is hopeful he could return for the second Test in Birmingham on July 2. Archer might make a Test comeback after four years of battling stress fractures in his back and elbow.

Archer is expected to play for Sussex against Durham starting Sunday, which would be his first red-ball outing since May 2021.

Also read: Michael Vaughan brutally mocks Virat Kohli: 'You don’t miss someone who averages 33'