Brydon Carse: Ben Stokes and Mark Wood Hungry to Make Impact in Ashes Tour of Australia

Brydon Carse Says Ben Stokes and Mark Wood on Course for Ashes Comeback in Australia.

England pacer Brydon Carse has confirmed that Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are close to full fitness and should be ready for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, starting next month. Stokes missed the final Test of the India series earlier this year with a shoulder injury, while Wood has been sidelined since August 2024 due to elbow and knee problems. Both players are targeting a return for the opening Test in Perth.

Speaking to the BBC, Carse revealed that he has been training with the pair at Loughborough and is impressed by their progress. “I’ve been down to Loughborough in the past couple of weeks, had a couple of nights with them. Ben is looking near enough 100% fit and so is Mark. I’ve been bowling with them,” Carse said.

“It’s exciting to see where they’ve got to after their setbacks during the summer. They’ll be raring to go come Australia time.”

Depth in England’s pace attack

While Stokes and Wood are the only two pacers in the England squad with prior Ashes experience in Australia, Carse believes the rest of the seamers are well prepared thanks to their previous A-tour exposure. “You can look at it two ways,” Carse said at the Toyota Professional Cricketers’ Association Awards. “Stokesy and Woody have played in Ashes series down in Australia, so they have that experience to fall back on.

A couple of the other seamers have been on A trips out there. Hopefully that experience gives them confidence going into the Ashes.” England are expected to travel with six fast bowlers, with Stokes also likely to play a key role as an all-rounder during the five-match series spread over seven weeks.