A low-grade side strain in October denied him valuable match practice with the ball, but Green is adamant he is not entering the series underdone.
Green is the central piece of the puzzle for national selectors, who were due to inform players overnight on the XI to start Australia’s Ashes defence in Perth.
Mark Wood in Perth ahead of the Ashes opener.Credit: Getty Images
With Green available to fulfil his duties with bat and ball, the expectation is he will most likely return to No.6, allowing Labuschagne to reclaim his cherished spot at first drop and well-travelled opener Jake Weatherald to make his Test debut partnering Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Green’s impending return to six, a position he has batted in more than any other, is at odds with Test captain Pat Cummins’ claim the youngest member of Australia’s team was seen as a long-term No.3.
But the move would be more in line with team balance than any slight on his ability. His average of 23.5 at three, though modest, provides no context to the treacherous conditions he faced in the Caribbean, where he was arguably Australia’s best batter.
“I’m so grateful they see me as someone who can do all those positions,” Green said. “I’ve moved round quite a bit in the Test team. Probably how good the coaching staff is they make you feel really secure regardless of where you’re playing, or regardless if you get moved around. [I’m] very fortunate they think that way about me but happy to bat anywhere.”
Wood’s return to the bowling crease was a source of smiles and happily raised eyebrows for the England squad in their first of three training sessions at Perth Stadium ahead of the opening Test on Friday. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith absorbed much of Wood’s spell, and confirmed it was quick.
“He was quick enough, I can tell you that from facing him,” said Smith. “I always seem to be stuffed on the board facing [the quick bowlers]. I faced Jofra at Lilac Hill the other day and Woody this week.
“I know we’ve got guys who are all bowling 90 miles an hour, but you’ve got some that you’re just desperate to avoid, and I think Woody is definitely one of them here. But, yeah, he’s bowling very good pace, and it’s great preparation for what we’ve got here.”
After missing the whole English season with a knee problem, Wood complained of hamstring stiffness during the tourists’ sole Ashes warm-up game at Lilac Hill and was sent for scans.
His fitness status was up in the air at the same time Josh Hazlewood was withdrawn from Australia’s squad for Perth with a hamstring strain of his own.
Fellow England squad member Josh Tongue added that he felt Wood was capable of playing this week.
“I was batting next to Smudge [Jamie Smith] when he was facing Woody, and he was definitely getting it through,” Tongue said. “If his body’s all good and the management think he’s good to go I don’t see why not [he’d play in Perth].”
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Even if Wood is not chosen in the England team for the first Test, his ability to bounce back quickly from the hamstring scare means he is still on track to play a significant role in the series, having been their outstanding pace bowler in each of their past two Ashes campaigns.
Wood put young England batter Jacob Bethell and an assortment of other squad players through their paces in a spell of six overs in around 30 minutes.
With England’s bowling coach David Saker speaking to him at the back of the nets between deliveries, Wood wore a compression sleeve on his left leg, the source of a knee injury this year and the hamstring scare last week.
After a jog and then a handful of warm-up deliveries, Wood bowled off his full run, beating the bat once or twice, and forcing Bethell to take rapid evasive action with the occasional short ball.
Later in Wood’s training stint, England skipper Ben Stokes stepped into the umpire’s position to watch his spearhead closely, at one stage theatrically signalling dead ball when Wood aborted one run to the crease.
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England head coach Brendon McCullum stroked his goatee while having a chat with team director Rob Key as they both watched Wood steam in. Key later went to speak to Saker.
A Bluetooth speaker blared tracks by U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day in the background – Wood’s fitness to take the field this series will be a major factor in whether the 2025–26 Ashes are a hit or a flop for Stokes’ team.
Later, Stokes took his own turn in the nets and was hit in the midriff by a ball from left-armer Josh Hull. On his knees in pain for a few moments, Stokes waved away medical attention before resuming his practice with a grimace. Smith said he had contemplated how to deal with the short ball on bigger grounds in Australia this summer.
“One thing you do have here compared to back home at times is true bounce throughout,” Smith said. “At times in the [home] summer when the wickets are a bit slower, it can come out a little bit two-paced, and it makes it a little bit harder. Hopefully here, with truer bounce, it is slightly easier.”
Jofra Archer, England’s other fast bowling thoroughbred, did not bowl on Tuesday but is expected to do so at the squad’s main session on Wednesday.
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