Mark Wood claims he ‘would love to stick one up’ Australia in the Ashes

Mark Wood has admitted he ‘would love to stick one up’ Australia and their ‘baggy green thing’ in the Ashes.

The England bowler took the wicket which clinched the urn at home in 2015 but has never played a Test Down Under.

Wood is therefore desperate to play a big role when the Ashes gets under way a week on Wednesday and help England win in Australia for the first time since 2010-11.

England fast bowler Mark Wood has said he would ‘love to stick one up’ Australia in the Ashes 

Wood admitted he had a ‘huge desire’ to prove people wrong and win the Ashes in Australia

‘To come up against this baggy green thing that they keep talking about, we’ll be having our baggy blues on and I’d love to stick one up them,’ said the 31-year-old.

Wood is the only out-and-out fast bowler in England’s 18-man squad, with Jofra Archer and Olly Stone injured. The Durham man missed the home series in 2019 through injury but is now fit and also featured in the recent T20 World Cup.

‘As an Englishman, playing against Australia is one of the biggest things you can do,’ Wood told the BBC’s Project Ashes podcast.

Wood, pictured arriving in Brisbane before the First Test, said he wants to match Australia’s pace bowlers

‘Winning in Australia would be one of the biggest achievements of my career. I’ve got a huge desire, a burning fire to prove people wrong there.

‘They’ve got a battery of top quicks, so I’m hoping I can match them or better them and be part of the squad that brings the Ashes home. I am probably not the first name on the team sheet, so I have a point to prove there, and I’ve got a point to prove to the Australians that I am a good bowler.

‘I was a bit naive (in 2015) in terms of my Test career. I had just started. I would love to have another go at it. I am a different bowler to what I was then.’