🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test as decisively as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be inflicted upon the England team.

How will they respond for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one expected what happened on the weekend. When you look at the quantity of deliveries required to complete the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.

England were clearly dominant at lunch on the second day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the comeback.

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

Trying to score off those bowls, with those shots, is the precise action you just do not do as a batsman in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

It demonstrated that England had failed to complete their preparation, are unable to adapt or are unwilling to adapt.

There is much discussion about England's approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that strategy.

It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach full of danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the contest against this England team.

I relied on my precision, backing myself to land the identical area on or outside 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 result in multiple wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Good players have ability, but great players have the mental toughness and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, crushed at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them change, just to show they can improve.

Bowling Concerns

It was similar with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was very good on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were attacked on the second night.

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England lose third wicket in quick succession

Brilliant Innings

In defense to England's pace attack, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.

His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground previously – a match I played in.

My former teammate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the better of the two. I agree. Considering the difficulty of the wicket and the situation of the match situation, Head's knock will be remembered as a highlight of cricket lore.

Tactical Moves

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman up the order for the follow-on.

The opener has faced criticism for being unable to open in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When Khawaja missed out on day one, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.

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

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them stick with the method of attacking play at the beginning.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into the batting lineup, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.

Series Outlook

After the opening match was controlled by the bowlers, questions arise if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.

Perth Stadium is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a some respite from here onward.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Credit has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place so often. Overall, batters on both sides will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

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

In 2006-07, I was part of the Australia team that dominated England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.

At the present, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a massive game.

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