I Would Be Salivating Facing the English Team - McGrath
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For Australia to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what psychological damage will be inflicted upon the England team.
What are they going to do for the remaining series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I believe anyone expected what happened on Saturday. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to complete the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.
England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the second day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The playing surface was still doing plenty. It looked so tough for Australia to re-enter the match.
Batting Mistakes
From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the first innings, then turned it around in the second to be the catalyst for the recovery.
England's batsmen were out trying to hit balls wide of off-stump, in the air, towards cover region.
Attempting runs off those bowls, with those strokes, is the precise action you just do not do as a batsman in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It showed that England had not done their preparation, are unable to adjust or are unwilling to adapt.
There is a lot of talk about England's approach, 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 sticking with that strategy.
It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the whole series.
Bowling Perspective
As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.
I depended on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the identical area on or outside off stump, with a bit of bounce and movement.
Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of bowling to them, knowing one mistake could result in three or four wickets.
Quality and Mental Toughness
There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Good players have ability, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and mindset to be flexible enough for the conditions.
They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are capable 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 almost the same with their bowling. England's attack was excellent on the opening day, then lost direction when they were attacked on the second night.
In the longest format, all disciplines require a Plan B. Frequently it feels like England have one method, 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 confronted with one of the memorable Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.
His 69-ball hundred was the second fastest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground previously – a match I participated in.
My old mate Gilly said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the match situation, Head's knock will go down as a highlight of cricket lore.
Strategic Decisions
It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate Head up the order for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has faced criticism for being unable to open in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.
When the batsman failed on day one, Australia advanced their number three and got bogged down.
In promoting Head, who has the experience of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack to England.
Upcoming Decisions
Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the method of aggression at the beginning.
That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like Beau Webster comes into the middle order, or return to number five and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could go to the top. It would be tough on the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.
Tournament Perspective
After the first Test was controlled by the pace attack, some are wondering if the remaining series will be short, low-scoring Tests.
The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a some respite from here onward.
It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be given to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batters on each team will need to analyze how they were dismissed.
Pivotal Match
Now we move on to Brisbane, and the vastly different day-night conditions for the following match.
In the historic series, I was part of the national side that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this country 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 lost once more.
