I'd Be Salivating Bowling to the English Team - Glenn McGrath
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For Australia to bounce 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 rest of series?
Surprising Comeback
I do not think anyone expected what happened on Saturday. When you look at the quantity of deliveries taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.
England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the following day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked so tough for Australia to re-enter the match.
Batting Mistakes
From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in arguably his poorest performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the comeback.
England's batters were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers.
Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It demonstrated that England had failed to complete 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 witnessed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that method.
It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method full of danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will face difficulties for the whole series.
Bowling Perspective
As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the contest against this England team.
I depended on my precision, having confidence to land the identical area 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 idea of facing them, knowing a single error could bring three or four wickets.
Quality and Mental Toughness
There are occasions when England can be a high-quality team. They have talented individuals. Good players have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and mindset to be flexible enough for the situation.
They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at the venue, crushed 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.
Pace Attack Issues
It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was very good on the first evening, then lost the plot when they were attacked on the second night.
In Test cricket, all aspects require a Plan B. Frequently it feels like England have one method, then no alternatives if that fails.
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Head's Masterclass
In fairness to England's bowlers, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.
His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Waca 19 years ago – a match I participated in.
My old mate Gilly said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the context of the game circumstances, Head's knock will go down as a moment of Ashes history.
Strategic Decisions
It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate the batsman up the order for the second innings.
The opener has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.
When the batsman failed on day one, Australia promoted their number three and got stuck.
In promoting Head, who has the experience of opening in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.
Upcoming Decisions
Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them continue the method of aggression at the top of the order.
That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like Beau Webster comes into the batting lineup, or return to number five and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be tough on Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.
Tournament Perspective
After the opening match was dominated by the pace attack, 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 batsmen should get a some respite from here onward.
It is not entirely about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to analyze how they got themselves out.
Pivotal Match
Now we progress to Brisbane, and the vastly different day-night 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 nation have a habit of slipping from England rapidly.
At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a massive game.
They need to adjust, or the Ashes will be gone once more.