I Would Be Licking My Lips Facing the English Team - McGrath
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For Australia to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test as decisively as they did, you wonder what scars will be left on the England team.
What are they going to do for the rest of series?
Surprising Comeback
I do not think no one expected what happened on the weekend. When you look at the quantity of deliveries taken to finish the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.
England were clearly dominant at lunch on the following day, leading by 105 runs with most wickets in hand. The playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.
Shot Selection Woes
From that point, England's choice of strokes was their major downfall. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the comeback.
England's batters were out trying to hit balls outside 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 preparation, are unable to adapt or are unwilling to adapt.
There is much discussion about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I observed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be pretty stubborn 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 fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will face difficulties for the whole series.
Bowling Perspective
As a bowler, I would have always felt in the contest against this England team.
I relied on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the identical area around off stump, with a bit of bounce and nip.
Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of bowling to them, aware one mistake could bring three or four wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Good players 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 events developed at the venue, 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 bowling. England's bowling unit was very good 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 Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that does not work.
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Head's Masterclass
In fairness 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 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 Gilchrist said the performance was the better of the two. I concur. Considering the difficulty of the pitch and the situation of the match situation, Head's knock will go down as a moment of cricket lore.
Tactical Moves
It was a bold and brave move for Australia to promote the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being unable to open in either innings. He had back spasms after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.
When the batsman failed on day one, Australia advanced their number three and got bogged down.
In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack 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 aggression at the top of the order.
That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or return to number five and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.
Tournament Perspective
After the first Test was dominated by the pace attack, some are wondering if the remaining 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 relief from here onward.
It is not entirely about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas consistently. Overall, batsmen on both sides will need to look at how they were dismissed.
Pivotal Match
Now we progress to the next venue, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the following match.
In 2006-07, I was a member of the national side that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. The rivalry in this nation have a habit of slipping from England rapidly.
At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from two down, which is why the venue is such a massive game.
They need to adjust, or the Ashes will be gone again.
