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The English fast bowler Mark Wood has stated he feels "quietly confident" about his fitness for the opening match of cricket's greatest rivalry down under.

The cricketer has been sidelined since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan last winter and underwent surgery on a left knee injury this spring.

That tournament and tour of India which came before was the 35-year-old's return after an elbow problem which sidelined him for many months.

"It was a frustrating summer," Wood stated. "I didn't get to play any matches and my knee, at times, when it seemed I was nearly fit, it wasn't fully recovered."

"I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent [training camp] progress has been positive. We've used the radar gun and the pace is getting up there."

The opener of the series starts on 21 November at Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia since 2010-2011.

"With luck, I'll be performing well, bowling well during warm-up matches and in the nets, and can put my hand up for the first Test," Wood continued, whose last Test outing versus Sri Lanka over a year back.

"The rehab hasn't just been a straight curve, it had its ups and downs, but now I'm in a better place where i'm hoping to kick on for that game."

"I never want to give an answer claiming, 'I'm fully ready, I'm ready'. I feel assured currently and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm cautiously hopeful."

Australian Fitness Concerns

Meanwhile, worries for Australia over the fitness of players have led to all-rounder Cameron Green making way for Marnus Labuschagne for the ODI series with India, beginning this weekend.

The Aussies also have doubts about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who has not played since mid-year because of lumbar bone stress affecting his spine.

"Cameron Green has been ruled out of the [India] series after suffering low-grade side soreness at training this week," Cricket Australia said.

"He will undergo a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return for the third round of the Sheffield Shield to further prepare for the series."

The third round of Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition begins on 28 October.