🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

For Australia to fight back and win the opening Ashes Test as decisively as they did, you wonder what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the rest of series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe anyone expected what happened on Saturday. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

England were well on top at lunch on the second 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 point, England's shot selection was their major downfall. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the recovery.

England's batters were out trying to hit balls wide of off-stump, on the up, towards cover region.

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

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had failed to complete their preparation, are unable to adjust or are reluctant to adapt.

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

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

Pacer's Viewpoint

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

I relied on my accuracy, backing myself to hit the same spot around off stump, with a bit of bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the idea of bowling to them, knowing a single error could bring multiple wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and attitude to be adaptable 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 loyal Australian, part of me wants to see them change, just to show they can get better.

Pace Attack Issues

It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was excellent on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the following day.

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Frequently it feels like England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that fails.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England collapse in six balls

Brilliant Innings

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

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

My former teammate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the match situation, the innings will be remembered as a highlight of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

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

The opener has copped it for being unable to open in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing golf the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When Khawaja missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In moving the aggressive batsman, who has the confidence of starting in limited overs, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Future Considerations

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

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or return to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Series Outlook

After the opening match was controlled by the pace attack, questions arise if the remaining 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 now on.

It is not entirely about the wicket. Credit has to be awarded to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the second Test.

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

At the moment, 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 need to adjust, or the Ashes will be lost once more.