I Would Be Salivating Bowling to the English Team - McGrath
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The Australian team to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.
How will they respond for the remaining series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I do not think anyone anticipated what transpired on the weekend. When you look at the quantity of deliveries required to complete the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.
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 doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.
Shot Selection Woes
From that point, England's shot selection was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an Australia shirt in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the recovery.
England's batters were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers.
Trying to score 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 not done their preparation, are unable to adjust or are unwilling to change approach.
There is much discussion about England's approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that method.
It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, 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 same spot around off stump, with a some bounce and nip.
Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the prospect of bowling to them, knowing one mistake could result in three or four wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. 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 things unfolded at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.
Pace Attack Issues
It was almost the same with their bowling. England's attack was excellent 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 nowhere to go if that does not work.
'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England lose third wicket in six balls
Brilliant Innings
In defense to England's bowlers, they were confronted with one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.
His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, 12 balls 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 concur. Considering the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the match circumstances, Head's knock will be remembered as a moment of cricket lore.
Tactical Moves
It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup 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 don't think the two were linked.
When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia advanced their number three and got stuck.
In promoting Head, who has the confidence of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.
Future Considerations
Now there is the issue 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 the all-rounder enters the batting lineup, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could move to the top. It would be difficult for the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.
Series Outlook
After the opening match was controlled by the bowlers, some are wondering if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.
The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a little bit of relief from here onward.
It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be given to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the right place so often. Overall, batters on both sides will need to look at how they were dismissed.
Pivotal Match
Now we move on to the next venue, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the second Test.
In the historic series, I was part of the national side that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of getting away from England rapidly.
At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.
They must adapt, or the historic urn will be lost again.
