Mark Wood Says Perth Collapse Was a 'Shame' for England's Ashes Campaign

Overview

• Wood said he looks back on England's opening Perth Test with 'shame' and believes the tourists should have won a game that he says would have changed the whole 4–1 series outcome.
• He confirmed he played the Perth Test while not fully fit after knee and earlier elbow problems, was later ruled out of the tour with a knee issue, and has not returned to Test cricket since.
• Wood blamed specific on-field decisions for the collapse, recalling that bowlers were pitching short at Travis Head—who hit 123—and that he warned teammates the match was effectively over.
• He described severe off-field pressure in Australia, citing being followed to golf courses, a Noosa holiday row over photos of drinking, and an e‑scooter photo without a helmet as examples of damaging scrutiny.
• Wood defended some team downtime as bonding under the Stokes–McCullum era while acknowledging public perception hurt England, a narrative that preceded Ben Stokes's retirement and Brendon McCullum's sacking.