Mark Wood preps to be unleashed in first Test

It's June 2023 at the Edgbaston nets two days out from the opening Test of the Ashes. News comes through that Mark Wood has been left out of the playing XI in Birmingham. When relayed to the Australian batters in the nets, the response is amused chuckling and hooting.

"Whattt? Woody's not playing?" goes one of them.

The reaction isn't jubilation or relief, but pleasant surprise that they won't have to contend with England's fastest bowler.

Wood didn't play the second Test at Lord's either before turning the series on its head after being introduced at Leeds for the third Test with Australia having taken a 2-0 lead.

It's unlikely the Australians will have to wait to deal with Wood this time around. There were some concerns about Wood's preparation after he injured his hamstring during England's warm-up game, requiring scans before being cleared.

The only person who could have potentially come in Wood's way of proving his fitness for the first Test in Perth was his captain Ben Stokes. Stokes accidentally almost walked into Wood as the 36-year-old was charging into bowl during his impressive 8-over burst on Tuesday morning.

Thankfully, danger was averted as Wood stopped and walked back to his mark to continue running in at full steam, delivering an ominous reminder to the Australians of his impact on the Perth Stadium surface.

Wood had his left leg heavily strapped throughout the session. He spent initial moments at the back before bowling his first couple of deliveries off a short run, then steaming in at full tilt for the next 35 minutes. It was a rapid spell with all Wood's trademarks: pacy bouncers, searing yorkers, very full deliveries down leg-side, and multiple balls rushing past the outside edge.

Wood took a tumble once, checking the strapping on his leg, but looked threatening for most of his stint three days out from the Test. He has now bowled a combined 16 overs on tour, including 8 in the warm-up game on Lilac Hill, with workloads coming together nicely. Wood received a high-five from coach Brendon McCullum near the end of his burst, then padded up for a hit before signing autographs and chatting with English media.

Though signs suggest Wood should be good to go on Friday, England might want one more spell from him in the next two days. Or maybe not.

With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both ruled out of the first Test, this is England's best chance to draw first blood in an away Ashes. It makes sense to hit the Aussies with all their heavy artillery straight up, including Wood and Jofra Archer.

There may be some sense in not risking Wood here since his pace could be valuable on flatter pitches at Adelaide Oval for the third Test next month. But it's unlikely England will wait, preferring to unleash Wood on the bouncy Perth pitch.

They were conservative four years ago, leaving out Stuart Broad on a green-top at the Gabba, just as they did with Wood for the first two Tests at home in 2023. Wood averages 23.74 for his 31 wickets in 7 Tests since 2021 against Australia.

Unlike at Edgbaston, there were no chuckles or astonishment from the Australian camp when they hit the nets later. Instead, they buckled down to prepare for facing Wood from the start of this Ashes summer.