I'd Be Licking My Lips Facing the English Team - McGrath
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The Australian team to fight back and win the first Ashes Test as decisively as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be inflicted upon the England team.
What are they going to do for the rest of series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I do not think no one expected what transpired on Saturday. 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 lunch on the second day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.
Shot Selection Woes
From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the comeback.
England's batters were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, on the up, towards cover region.
Attempting runs off those bowls, with those shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batsman in Australia.
Adjustment Problems
It demonstrated that England had not done their preparation, are unable to adapt or are unwilling to adapt.
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 their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that method.
It is fine on sluggish 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 entire series.
Pacer's Viewpoint
As a paceman, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.
I relied on my precision, backing myself to hit the identical area on or outside 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, knowing a single error could bring three or four wickets.
Quality and Mental Toughness
There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have ability, but great players have the psychological strength and mindset to be flexible enough for the conditions.
They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at the venue, devastated at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a loyal Australian, I somewhat wants to see them change, just to show they can improve.
Pace Attack Issues
It was similar with their bowling. England's attack 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 backup strategy. Quite often it seems England have one method, then nowhere to go if that does not work.
'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England lose third wicket in quick succession
Brilliant Innings
In fairness to England's pace attack, 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 man in the historic rivalry, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca previously – a game I played in.
My old mate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the context of the match situation, the innings will go down as a moment of cricket lore.
Tactical Moves
It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman in the lineup for the second innings.
Usman Khawaja 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 the batsman missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted their number three and got bogged down.
In moving the aggressive batsman, 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 issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the approach of attacking play at the beginning.
That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like Beau Webster comes into the middle order, or Head could go back to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be tough on 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, questions arise if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.
The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of relief from now on.
It is not entirely about the pitch. Credit has to be given to the pacemen for getting the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batters on both sides will need to analyze how they got themselves out.
Pivotal Match
Now we move on to Brisbane, 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 slipping from England rapidly.
At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a massive game.
They must adapt, or the Ashes will be lost once more.