England fast bowler Mark Wood has issued a rallying cry to his team, urging them to "fight fire with fire" after a crushing eight-wicket defeat in the first Ashes Test in Perth.
The tourists were left reeling after Australia, powered by a brutal century from Travis Head, wrapped up the match on the second evening, leaving England with three unscheduled days off.
Reflecting on a 'Flat' Defeat
Wood, the first England player to speak publicly since the loss, appeared on Stuart Broad's For the Love of Cricket podcast. He admitted the squad's mood was "flat" following the shattering result but expressed confidence in their ability to recover.
"We've been hit pretty hard in round one but we've got other rounds to try and throw some back," Wood told Broad. He emphasised the importance of sticking together, stating the loss was just "one of five" Tests and that the team must focus on the end goal.
Finding Positives and a Path Forward
Despite the disappointment, Wood pointed to England's relentless pace attack on the first day, which dismantled Australia's first innings, as a key reason for optimism. He believes the team is built to take 20 wickets in Australian conditions.
Looking ahead to the day-night Test at the Gabba, Wood noted, "Being a day/night Test we know around night time it can zip around and if it can zip around at pace that can make it doubly difficult."
He acknowledged that his words would do little to soothe the disappointment for fans, both in Perth and back in the UK, confirming that the players share their raw emotions. "It's gonna hurt and it should hurt for a few days," he said.
Second Defeat Compounds England's Woes
Adding to England's troubles, Andrew Flintoff's Lions team suffered a second heavy defeat in 48 hours. They were beaten by eight wickets by a Cricket Australia XI at Lilac Hill, with Josh Inglis scoring a commanding 125 not out against an attack featuring international players.
