I Would Be Licking My Lips Bowling to the English Team - Glenn McGrath
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The Australian team to fight back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be left on the England team.
How will they respond for the remaining series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I do not think no one anticipated what transpired on Saturday. 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 the midday break on the following day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. 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. The Australian bowler 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 recovery.
England's batters were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, in the air, towards cover region.
Trying to score off those bowls, with those shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.
Adjustment Problems
It showed that England had failed to complete their homework, are not able to adapt or are reluctant to change approach.
There is a lot of talk about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that strategy.
It is fine on sluggish 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 relied on my accuracy, having confidence to land the same spot around off stump, with a some bounce and movement.
Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of bowling to them, knowing one mistake could result in three or four wickets.
Quality and Mental Toughness
There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Good players have ability, but great players have the mental toughness and attitude to be adaptable enough for the conditions.
They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at the venue, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.
Bowling Concerns
It was almost the same with their bowling. England's bowling unit was very good on the opening day, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.
In the longest format, all aspects require a backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that does not work.
'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in six balls
Head's Masterclass
In defense to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the great Ashes innings by Travis Head.
His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Waca previously – a match I played in.
My old mate Gilchrist said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Considering the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the game situation, the innings will go down as a highlight of Ashes history.
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 faced criticism for being failing to start in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.
When Khawaja missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.
In promoting Head, 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 stick with the method of aggression at the beginning.
That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could move to the opening. It would be difficult for the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.
Series Outlook
After the first Test was dominated by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.
The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a some respite from now on.
It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place so often. In general, 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 twilight conditions for the second Test.
In 2006-07, I was part of the Australia team that dominated England to win 5-0. The rivalry in this country have a habit of getting away 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 massive game.
They must adapt, or the Ashes will be lost once more.