🔗 Share this article

• Published
  9 minutes ago
• 4 Comments

The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.

What are they going to do for the rest of series?

Unexpected Turnaround

I do not think no one anticipated what happened on Saturday. When you examine the number of overs required to finish the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

England were well on top at lunch on the second day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The playing surface was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the first innings, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the recovery.

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

Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those shots, is the one thing you just do not do as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It demonstrated that England had failed to complete their homework, are unable to adjust or are unwilling to adapt.

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I observed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that method.

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

Bowling Perspective

As a paceman, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.

I depended on my accuracy, having confidence 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 facing them, knowing a single error could result in multiple wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Good players have skill, but great players have the mental toughness and mindset to be adaptable enough for the situation.

They would been stunned at the way events developed at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.

Pace Attack Issues

It was similar with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was excellent on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were attacked on the following day.

In the longest format, all disciplines require a backup strategy. 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 six balls

Brilliant Innings

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

His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a match I participated in.

My old mate Gilly said the performance was the better of the two. I concur. Considering the challenging nature of the pitch and the context of the game situation, Head's knock will be remembered as a moment of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head up the order for the second innings.

The opener has copped it for being unable to open in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia promoted their number three and got stuck.

In moving Head, who has the confidence of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Future Considerations

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them stick with the approach of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as Beau Webster comes into the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could go to the opening. It would be difficult for the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Series Outlook

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

Perth Stadium is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of respite from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be given to the pacemen for delivering the ball in the right place so often. In general, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we move on to the next venue, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the following match.

In 2006-07, I was a member of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this country have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.

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

They must adapt, or the Ashes will be gone again.