🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Unexpected Turnaround

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

England were well on top at lunch on the following day, leading by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the initial batting, 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, in the air, through the covers.

Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It showed that England had failed to complete their homework, are not able to adapt or are unwilling to change approach.

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that method.

It is fine on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the whole series.

Pacer's Viewpoint

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

I relied on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the same spot on or outside off stump, with a some bounce and movement.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the prospect of facing them, aware a single error could bring multiple wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Good players have skill, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and attitude to be flexible enough for the situation.

They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at Perth Stadium, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.

Pace Attack Issues

It was almost the same with their bowling. 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 backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in six balls

Head's Masterclass

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

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

My old mate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I agree. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the context of the game circumstances, the innings will go down as a highlight of cricket lore.

Tactical Moves

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the second innings.

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

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

In moving Head, who has the confidence of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Future Considerations

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them continue the approach of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or return to his position and the all-rounder or the keeper could go to the opening. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.

Series Outlook

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

The venue is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the world, so the batsmen should get a little bit of relief from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be given to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to analyze how they were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the following match.

In the historic series, I was a member of the Australia team that dominated England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a habit of slipping from England rapidly.

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

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