I Would Be Licking My Lips Facing the English Team - Glenn McGrath

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For Australia to fight back and win the first Ashes Test as decisively 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?

Surprising Comeback

I believe anyone anticipated what transpired on Saturday. When you examine the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

England were well on top at lunch on the following day, leading by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the first innings, then turned it around in the second 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 strokes, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batsman in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It showed that England had failed to complete their homework, are unable to adjust or are reluctant to change approach.

There is a lot of talk about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it firsthand 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 sluggish 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 bowler, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.

I depended on my accuracy, backing myself to hit the identical area 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 prospect of bowling to them, knowing a single error could bring multiple wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and mindset to be adaptable enough for the situation.

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 true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them adapt, just to show they can get better.

Bowling Concerns

It was similar with their pace attack. England's attack was excellent on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the second night.

In Test cricket, all aspects require a backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in quick succession

Head's Masterclass

In defense 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 Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground previously – a match I participated in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Considering the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the game situation, Head's knock will be remembered as a highlight of cricket lore.

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 back spasms after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When Khawaja failed on day one, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In promoting 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 question of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them continue the method of aggression at the top of the order.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like Beau Webster comes into the batting lineup, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could go to the top. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.

Series Outlook

After the first Test was controlled by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

Perth Stadium is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the world, so the batters should get a little bit of relief from now on.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Credit has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place so often. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

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

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

At the moment, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.

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

John Davis
John Davis

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