I'd Be Salivating Facing the English Team - McGrath

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For Australia to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what scars will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I do not think anyone expected what happened on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

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 moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the comeback.

England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, in the air, through the covers.

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

Adaptation Issues

It showed that England had not done their preparation, are not able to adjust or are unwilling to change approach.

There is a lot of talk about England's approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that strategy.

It is fine on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a approach 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, backing myself to land the identical area around off stump, with a bit of bounce and movement.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the prospect of facing them, aware a single error could result in 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 psychological strength and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way events developed at the venue, devastated at the way they were beaten. 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.

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's attack was excellent on the first evening, then lost direction when they were attacked on the following day.

In Test cricket, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Frequently it seems England have one method, then no alternatives if that fails.

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Head's Masterclass

In defense to England's pace attack, they were hit by one of the memorable Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.

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

My former teammate Gilly said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the game circumstances, the innings 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 failing to start in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When the batsman missed out on day one, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them continue the method of aggression at the beginning.

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the middle order, or Head could go back to number five 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 controlled by the pace attack, some are wondering if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.

Perth Stadium is essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of relief from here onward.

It is not entirely about the wicket. Credit has to be given to the pacemen for getting the ball in the right place so often. In general, batsmen 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 second Test.

In 2006-07, I was part of the Australia team that dominated England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a habit of slipping from England rapidly.

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

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

Thomas Khan
Thomas Khan

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