I Would Be Licking My Lips Facing the English Team - Glenn McGrath

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The Australian team to fight back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what psychological damage 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 examine the quantity of deliveries taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

England were well on top at lunch on the following day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. 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 arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the recovery.

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

Attempting runs off those bowls, with those shots, is the one thing you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

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

There is much discussion about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. 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 method.

It is fine on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method full of danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

As a bowler, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.

I relied on my precision, 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 licking my lips at the idea of bowling to them, knowing one mistake could bring multiple wickets.

Skill and Resilience

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

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

Bowling Concerns

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 Test cricket, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Frequently it feels like England have one method, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

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Brilliant Innings

In defense 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 fastest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a match I played in.

My former teammate Gilchrist said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the game circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a highlight of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.

The opener has copped it for being unable to open in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.

When the batsman missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted 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.

Future Considerations

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. 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 Beau Webster comes into the middle order, or return to number five and the all-rounder or the keeper could move to the top. It would be difficult for the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the opening match was dominated by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

The venue is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of respite from here onward.

It is not all about the pitch. Credit has to be given to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place so often. Overall, batsmen on both sides will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

Now we move on to Brisbane, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the second Test.

In the historic series, I was a member of the Australia team that dominated England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.

At the present, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.

They need to adjust, or the Ashes will be gone once more.