I look back shamefully – Mark Wood's regret over Perth Test turning point in Ashes series

England suffered an eight-wicket loss inside two days in Perth during the opening Test of the Ashes series. The defeat proved to be a turning point that shaped the entire tour, with the series ultimately ending in a 4-1 loss for England. Fast bowler Mark Wood was part of the all-pace attack in that opening Test at Perth on November 21, marking his first competitive appearance in close to nine months after returning from knee surgery in March.

Wood's return to Test cricket came after a lengthy absence. His previous Test cap was in August 2024 against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford. During the Perth Test, Wood bowled 11 overs across both innings but took no wickets. Speaking about the match, Wood expressed deep regret about England's performance and what might have been had the team secured victory.

"I look back on it shamefully. We should have won that first game. The whole tour was different if we won in Perth. Australia were there for the taking. Then the game just seemed to be in fast-forward, which is why I feel shame, because the game was finished. At one point, Gus Atkinson was bowling; we were just bowling bouncers at Head, and he was smacking them, and I remember looking at the score and thinking, 'this game is finished'," said Wood as quoted by NDTV Sports.

"I stopped the play and went to Gus to say, 'What are we actually doing here, because this is the last resort? If you don't change it now, we're finished, and the game is literally gone'. Head was so good that day, and then the momentum was with them. I just look back and think 'what a shame'. It's a total missed opportunity," he added.

Wood's physical condition during the Perth Test was not optimal. He had suffered tightness in his hamstring during the warm-up game against England Lions before the series began, affecting the same left leg on which he had undergone knee surgery after sustaining an injury in February. Despite receiving clearance from a scan to resume preparations, Wood acknowledged his readiness was questionable.

"Coming to Perth, my knee probably wasn't right, and then my hamstring – I've never had a hamstring problem in my whole career. I think the hamstring was over-compensating for my knee, protecting my knee, and that's why it got tight. I remember bowling in the nets in Perth, almost convincing myself I'm ready to go, then at the back of my mind thinking, 'I'm nowhere near'," Wood said.

During the tour, England's players faced intense media scrutiny and public attention. Wood discussed the pressure and perception surrounding the team's activities away from the cricket field, noting the difference between what actually occurred and how it was perceived by the public.

"People can say what they want about when Australia comes here, but if they get followed as we got followed in Australia, I would be amazed. Me and Ben Stokes went for a walk, and this guy fell out of the bush with his camera. We had reporters running after us, asking us questions. I wouldn't have done that. If I were a drinker, I wouldn't have done that, but that's not to say what I think is right or wrong, that I'm righteous, or that I would have done the right thing. I wouldn't have done that because of what people might perceive me to be," said Wood.

"The perception of how it looks to people is worse than what it actually was. Is it a bad thing? The lads get to spend loads of time together. They don't just play golf; they're talking about cricket. “You get away from the mental pressures of the tour, or at home. I see both points. The problem for me is how it's perceived by the public. That's the bit that looks wrong to me. I liked to get away and see where we were staying. You'd often fly into a place, see a hotel, or fly out. I'd often grab Mark Saxby, the masseur, or Chris Woakes, and we would go to a coffee shop or find somewhere." he added.