I'd Be Salivating Bowling to the English Team - McGrath
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For Australia to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.
How will they respond for the remaining series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I do not think no one expected what happened on Saturday. When you look at the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.
England were clearly dominant 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.
Shot Selection Woes
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 driving force for the comeback.
England's batters were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, on the up, through the covers.
Trying to score off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the one thing you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It demonstrated that England had failed to complete 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 witnessed it firsthand during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that strategy.
It is fine on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method full of danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will face difficulties for the entire 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 same spot on or outside off stump, with a some bounce and movement.
Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the idea of facing them, aware a single error could bring multiple wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Good players have ability, but great players have the psychological strength and mindset to be adaptable enough for the situation.
They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at the venue, 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 attack was very good on the first evening, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the following day.
In the longest format, all disciplines require a Plan B. 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 quick succession
Brilliant Innings
In defense to England's pace attack, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by Travis Head.
His 69-ball hundred was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground previously – a game I played in.
My former teammate Gilchrist said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Considering the challenging nature of the wicket and the context of the game situation, Head's knock will go down as a highlight of cricket lore.
Tactical Moves
It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being unable to open in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.
When Khawaja missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.
In moving the aggressive batsman, who has the confidence of opening in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.
Upcoming Decisions
Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them continue the approach of attacking play 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 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 opposition would find most challenging.
Series Outlook
After the first Test was controlled by the bowlers, some are wondering if the remaining series will be brief, low-run Tests.
Perth Stadium is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of respite from now on.
It is not entirely about the pitch. Credit has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the right place so often. In general, batters on each team will need to analyze how they were dismissed.
Crucial Next Test
Now we progress 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 win 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a tendency of getting away from England quickly.
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 must adapt, or the historic urn will be gone once more.