Stokes, Wood nearing full fitness ahead of Ashes as Cummins remains doubtful

London, 14 October 2025:

Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are expected to be fit and “raring to go” for the start of the Ashes series next month, providing England with a timely lift as Australia continues to monitor captain Pat Cummins’ fitness.

Both Stokes and Wood bring valuable experience of playing Test cricket in Australia. Stokes missed the final Test against India with a shoulder injury, while Wood was sidelined for the entire English summer following knee surgery in March.

The pair recently resumed training in heated outdoor nets at Loughborough alongside Durham teammate Brydon Carse, who said both looked close to full fitness. “Ben is looking near enough 100% fit and so is Mark,” Carse said. “It’s exciting to see how far they’ve come after setbacks during the summer. They’ll be raring to go come Australia time.”

Cummins, meanwhile, said he is “unlikely” to be ready for the first Test in Perth starting Nov. 21 due to a lower back stress issue.

Carse, who toured Australia with the England Lions in 2019-20, said he’s ready for the challenge of playing in front of big crowds. “I wear my heart on my sleeve,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect anything less than a few verbals, and I’m looking forward to it.”

The 30-year-old quick has found success with the Kookaburra ball, taking 27 wickets in five Tests last winter. “I like bowling with the Kookaburra — it feels more comfortable in the hand than the Dukes,” he said.

Carse is currently in New Zealand with England’s white-ball squad for a T20 and ODI series that will help shape plans for next February’s T20 World Cup in India.

Meanwhile, England’s Test selectors face a decision at No. 3, where Ollie Pope’s experience will be weighed against 21-year-old Jacob Bethell’s promising back-foot game. Bethell, who scored his maiden professional century against South Africa in September, said he’s focused on performing in New Zealand before thinking about the Ashes.

“Form is a big thing in sport,” Bethell said. “If that leads to an Ashes call-up, I’ll take it with both hands.”