🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

The Australian team to fight back and win the first Ashes Test as decisively 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 anyone expected what happened on the weekend. When you examine the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at the midday break on the following day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The playing surface was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that point, England's shot selection was their major downfall. The Australian bowler put in arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the first innings, then completely reversed in the second to be the catalyst for the recovery.

England's batters were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, in the air, towards cover region.

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

Adaptation Issues

It demonstrated that England had not done their preparation, are unable to adapt or are reluctant to adapt.

There is a lot of talk about England's approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand 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 strategy.

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

Pacer's Viewpoint

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 bit of bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of bowling to them, aware one mistake could result in multiple wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are occasions when England can be a high-quality team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have ability, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and attitude to be adaptable enough for the situation.

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 made of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's attack was excellent on the first evening, then lost the plot 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 fails.

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

Brilliant Innings

In fairness to England's bowlers, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by Travis Head.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca 19 years ago – a game I played in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the better of the two. I agree. Considering the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the game circumstances, Head's knock will be remembered as a highlight of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote Head in the lineup for the follow-on.

Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When the batsman missed out on the opening day, Australia advanced their number three and got stuck.

In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of starting in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Upcoming Decisions

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

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as the all-rounder enters the batting lineup, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could move 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 opening match was controlled by the bowlers, questions arise if the remaining series will be brief, low-run Tests.

Perth Stadium is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a some relief from now on.

It is not all about the pitch. Credit has to be given to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. In general, batters on each team will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we progress to the next venue, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the second Test.

In the historic series, I was part of the national side that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a habit of getting away from England rapidly.

At the present, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.

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