I Would Be Salivating Bowling to the English Team - McGrath
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The Australian team to fight back and win the opening Ashes Test as decisively as they did, you wonder what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.
How will they respond for the remaining series?
Surprising Comeback
I believe anyone expected what transpired on the weekend. When you examine the number of overs 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 offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.
Shot Selection Woes
From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their major downfall. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then turned it around in the second to be the catalyst for the recovery.
England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, in the air, towards cover region.
Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the one thing you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It showed that England had not done their homework, are not able to adjust or are reluctant to change approach.
There is much discussion about England's approach, their aggressive style. I observed 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 adhering to that method.
It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the entire series.
Bowling Perspective
As a paceman, I would have always felt in the contest against this England team.
I relied on my precision, having confidence to hit the identical area 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 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 skill, but great players have the mental toughness and attitude to be adaptable enough for the situation.
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 made of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them adapt, just to show they can get better.
Pace Attack Issues
It was similar with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was excellent on the first evening, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.
In Test cricket, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that fails.
'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in six balls
Head's Masterclass
In fairness to England's bowlers, they were hit by one of the memorable Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.
His 69-ball hundred was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Waca 19 years ago – a game I participated in.
My former teammate Gilly said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Given the difficulty of the pitch and the context of the match situation, Head's knock will go down as a moment of Ashes history.
Strategic Decisions
It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head up the order for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.
When Khawaja missed out on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.
In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive 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 method of attacking play at the beginning.
That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or Head could go back to his position and the all-rounder or the keeper could move to the top. It would be difficult for 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 rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.
The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the world, so the batters should get a some respite from here onward.
It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to look at how they were dismissed.
Pivotal Match
Now we progress to Brisbane, and the vastly different day-night conditions for the second Test.
In 2006-07, I was part of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.
At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a massive game.
They need to adjust, or the Ashes will be gone once more.