🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

The Australian team to fight back and win the opening Ashes Test as decisively as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one expected what happened on Saturday. When you look at the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at lunch on the second day, leading by 105 runs 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 shot selection was their major downfall. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the second to be the catalyst for the recovery.

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

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

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had not done their preparation, are not able to adjust or are unwilling to change approach.

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 pretty stubborn when it comes to sticking with that strategy.

It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will face difficulties for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

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

I depended on my accuracy, backing myself to land the same spot on or outside off stump, with a some bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of bowling to them, knowing one mistake could result in 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 great players have the mental toughness and attitude to be adaptable enough for the situation.

They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at the venue, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them change, just to show they can get better.

Bowling Concerns

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

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often 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

Brilliant Innings

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

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

My former teammate Gilly said the performance was the superior of the two. I agree. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the match circumstances, Head's knock will be remembered as a highlight of Ashes history.

Strategic Decisions

It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate Head in the lineup for the second innings.

Usman Khawaja has faced criticism for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When Khawaja failed on day one, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.

In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience 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 method of aggression at the beginning.

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

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was dominated by the pace attack, some are wondering 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 batters 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. In general, batters on both sides will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Crucial Next Test

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

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

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

They need to adjust, or the historic urn will be lost again.