🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

For Australia to bounce back and win the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the rest of series?

Surprising Comeback

I do not think no one expected what happened on Saturday. When you look at the number of overs required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the following day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that point, England's shot selection was their major downfall. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then turned it around in the second to be the driving force for the recovery.

England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, on the up, through the covers.

Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the one thing you just do not do as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It demonstrated that England had failed to complete their homework, are unable to adjust or are reluctant to change approach.

There is much discussion about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that method.

It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will face difficulties for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

As a paceman, I would have always felt in the contest against this England team.

I depended on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the identical area around off stump, with a some bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the idea of facing them, aware one mistake could bring three or four wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and mindset to be adaptable enough for the situation.

They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them adapt, just to show they can get better.

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's attack was excellent on the first evening, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the following day.

In Test cricket, all aspects require a Plan B. Frequently it feels like England have one method, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England collapse in quick succession

Head's Masterclass

In defense to England's bowlers, they were confronted with one of the memorable Ashes innings by Travis Head.

His 69-ball hundred was the second fastest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a match I participated in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the context of the game circumstances, the innings will go down as a highlight of Ashes history.

Strategic Decisions

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to promote Head up the order for the second innings.

Usman Khawaja has faced criticism for being failing to start in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia advanced their number three and got bogged down.

In promoting Head, who has the confidence of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them continue the approach of aggression at the beginning.

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.

Series Outlook

After the opening match was controlled by the bowlers, some are wondering if the remaining series will be brief, low-run Tests.

The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a little bit of relief from here onward.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be given to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. In general, batters on both sides will need to analyze how they were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

Now we move on to Brisbane, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the following match.

In the historic series, I was a member of the Australia team that dominated England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a habit of getting away from England rapidly.

At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.

They must adapt, or the historic urn will be gone once more.