I Would Be Salivating Facing the English Team - McGrath
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For Australia 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.
What are they going to do for the remaining series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I do not think no one anticipated what happened on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries taken to complete the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.
England were well on top at the midday break on the second day, leading by 105 runs with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.
Batting Mistakes
From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the recovery.
England's batsmen were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers.
Trying to score off those bowls, with those shots, is the precise action you just do not do as a batter in Australia.
Adjustment Problems
It demonstrated that England had not done their homework, are not able to adapt or are unwilling to change approach.
There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I observed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that strategy.
It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach full of danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the whole series.
Bowling Perspective
As a paceman, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.
I depended on my precision, having confidence to land the same spot on or outside off stump, with a some bounce and movement.
Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of facing them, aware a single error could result in multiple wickets.
Skill and Resilience
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 mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.
They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at Perth Stadium, crushed at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a loyal Australian, part of me wants to see them change, just to show they can improve.
Bowling Concerns
It was similar with their pace attack. England's attack was excellent on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the following day.
In the longest format, all disciplines 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 collapse in six balls
Brilliant Innings
In defense to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the memorable Ashes innings by Travis Head.
His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a match I played in.
My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Considering the difficulty of the pitch and the context of the game circumstances, the innings will go down as a moment of cricket lore.
Tactical Moves
It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman up the order for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.
When the batsman missed out on day one, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.
In promoting Head, who has the confidence 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 second Test. I'd like to see them continue the approach of aggression at the beginning.
That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or return to number five and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could move 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 dominated by the bowlers, questions arise if the remaining 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 some respite from here onward.
It is not entirely about the wicket. Credit has to be given to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the correct areas consistently. Overall, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they were dismissed.
Pivotal Match
Now we progress to Brisbane, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the following match.
In 2006-07, I was a member of the national side that dominated England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this nation have a habit of slipping from England quickly.
At the moment, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a massive game.
They must adapt, or the historic urn will be lost again.