🔗 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 scars will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I do not think anyone expected what happened on Saturday. When you look at the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

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 offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their major downfall. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then turned it around in the second to be the catalyst for the comeback.

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

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

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had failed to complete their preparation, are not able to adjust or are reluctant to adapt.

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under their captain and their coach, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that strategy.

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

Bowling Perspective

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

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

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing them, aware 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. Competent cricketers have skill, but great players have the psychological strength and mindset to be flexible enough for the conditions.

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

Pace Attack Issues

It was similar with their pace attack. England's bowling unit 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. Frequently it seems England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that fails.

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

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 fastest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground previously – a game I played in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I agree. Considering the difficulty of the wicket and the situation of the match circumstances, the innings will go down as a moment of cricket lore.

Tactical Moves

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote Head up the order for the second innings.

The opener has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

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

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

Upcoming Decisions

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

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like the all-rounder comes into the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and the all-rounder or the keeper could go to the top. It would be tough on Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.

Series Outlook

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

The venue is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a some relief from here onward.

It is not entirely about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place so often. In general, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

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

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

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

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