🔗 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, one questions what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the rest of series?

Surprising Comeback

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

England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the following day, leading by 105 runs with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, England's shot selection was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the comeback.

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

Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

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

There is much discussion about England's method, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that strategy.

It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the whole series.

Bowling Perspective

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

I relied on my accuracy, backing myself 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 eagerly anticipating at the idea of facing them, aware one mistake could bring three or four wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have ability, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and attitude to be flexible enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded 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 adapt, just to show they can improve.

Bowling Concerns

It was similar with their bowling. England's bowling unit was very good on the first evening, then lost the plot when they were attacked on the following day.

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that does not work.

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

Brilliant Innings

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

His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a game I participated in.

My old mate Gilly said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the difficulty of the pitch and the situation of the match circumstances, Head's knock will go down as a moment of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.

The opener has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.

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

Future Considerations

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them continue the method of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the middle order, or return to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could move to the opening. It would be tough on the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was dominated by the bowlers, some are wondering if the remaining series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

The venue is essentially 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 awarded to the pacemen for delivering the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batters on both sides will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Pivotal Match

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

In 2006-07, I was a member of the national side that dominated England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this nation have a tendency of getting away from England rapidly.

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

They need to adjust, or the historic urn will be gone once more.