"There's been the odd glimpse in my England career so far, but I've never lived up to my own expectations or probably other people's."
Thursday 23 November 2017 13:58, UK
Mark Wood says he still hopes to play a part in England’s Ashes defence despite not being selected in the tourists' initial squad.
Durham seamer Wood is in Australia with England Lions after being overlooked for a spot in the senior side's Ashes party on fitness grounds.
However, the 27-year-old - who has taken 26 wickets in his 10 Tests to date - hopes to unleash his pace on Steve Smith's side at some point in the five-match series.
"I had meetings with Andrew Strauss, Trevor Bayliss and James Whitaker at the end of the season," Wood, who has not played for England since suffering a bruised heel during the Test series win over South Africa in the summer, told ESPN Cricinfo.
"They said that if I got my body right I'd be in a position to have an impact in the series. I've got a chance but you have to wait for injuries.
"I've had enough injuries to know you don't want people to go through that but if there is an injury I can just slot in.
"I'd say I'm bowling at about 80 per cent at the moment. My action feels good, but I've got no overs under my belt. Hopefully I can play some part in the series.
"I have a lot of self-belief and I think that if I can get back to a position where I'm in a good place physically I can show how good I can be.
"There's been the odd glimpse in my England career so far, but I've never lived up to my own expectations or probably other people's."
Wood, who bowled at England's senior batsmen in the nets in the lead up to the Ashes opener at the Gabba, says his injury issues have not caused him to consider becoming a one-day specialist.
The quick believes he can be one of the "best around" in the Test arena after previously doubting whether he would make it back to that level.
"I'll never go the white-ball route," he added. "Test cricket is the ultimate for me and pace with skill is killer.
"If I can ramp it up, the pace makes me different from everyone else. I can add that with a little bit of skill that hopefully makes me one of the best around.
"It was tough seeing all the lads preparing [for the first Test] and I was with the Lions lads - it's hard to be on the edge of things and not amongst it.
"There are times when I thought I wouldn't get back to playing for England and then, when I do get back, I wanted to stay there. So it has been immensely frustrating.
"Every operation I had, I came back thinking the rehab was tough but this last year I found mentally harder than anything.
"I felt I was in a battle with myself. I've always been a free-spirited sort of guy who just ran in and bowled, but this year I had more on my mind."
