I'd Be Salivating Bowling to England - McGrath

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The Australian team to fight back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test as decisively as they did, you wonder what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one expected what happened on the weekend. When you look at the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were clearly dominant at lunch on the following day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland 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 attempting to strike balls outside off stump, in the air, towards cover region.

Attempting runs off those bowls, with those strokes, is the one thing you just do not do as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It demonstrated that England had not done their preparation, are not able to adapt or are unwilling to adapt.

There is much discussion about England's approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes 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 quick, lively 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 bowler, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.

I depended on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the same spot around off stump, with a bit of bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of bowling to them, aware one mistake could result in three or four wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Good players have ability, but great players have the psychological strength and attitude to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked 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 true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them change, just to show they can get better.

Pace Attack Issues

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

In the longest format, all aspects require a backup strategy. Quite often it seems England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

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Brilliant Innings

In fairness to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the great Ashes innings by Travis Head.

His 69-ball hundred was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground previously – a game I played in.

My former teammate Gilchrist said the performance was the better of the two. I concur. Given the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the match situation, Head's knock will be remembered as a moment of Ashes history.

Strategic Decisions

It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate Head in the lineup for the follow-on.

Usman Khawaja has faced criticism for being failing to start in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.

In promoting Head, who has the experience of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the method of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like the all-rounder enters the batting lineup, or return to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could move to the top. It would be tough on Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was controlled by the bowlers, some are wondering if the remaining series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

Perth Stadium is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of respite from now on.

It is not entirely about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Pivotal Match

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the following match.

In the historic series, I was part of the national side that dominated England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.

At the moment, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no recovery from two down, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.

They must adapt, or the historic urn will be gone again.