🔗 Share this article I Would Be Licking My Lips Bowling to England - Glenn McGrath Published9 minutes ago 4 Comments The Australian team to fight back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what scars 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 expected what transpired on the weekend. When you look at the number of overs required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward. 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 offering assistance. 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 major downfall. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the comeback. England's batters were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers. Trying to score off those bowls, with those strokes, is the precise action you just do not do as a batter in Australia. Adaptation Issues It showed that England had failed to complete their homework, are not able to adapt or are unwilling to change approach. There is much discussion about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it firsthand during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under their captain and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that strategy. It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the entire series. Pacer's Viewpoint 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 bit of bounce and nip. Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of bowling to them, knowing one mistake could result in three or four wickets. Skill and Resilience There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have talented individuals. Good players have skill, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and mindset to be flexible enough for the situation. They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a loyal Australian, I somewhat wants to see them change, just to show they can improve. Bowling Concerns It was similar with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was excellent 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. Frequently it seems England have one method, then no alternatives if that does not work. 'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England lose third wicket in quick succession Head's Masterclass In defense to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the memorable Ashes innings by Travis Head. His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Waca previously – a match I participated in. My old mate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Considering the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the game situation, the innings will be remembered as a highlight of Ashes history. Strategic Decisions It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head in the lineup for the second innings. The opener has faced criticism for being unable to open in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were connected. When Khawaja failed on day one, Australia promoted their number three and got bogged down. In promoting Head, who has the experience of opening 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 continue the method of attacking play at the top of the order. That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could go to the opening. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable. Tournament Perspective After the opening match was controlled by the bowlers, questions arise if the remaining series will be brief, low-run Tests. Perth Stadium is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a little bit of relief from here onward. It is not all about the wicket. Credit has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to look at how they got themselves out. Pivotal Match Now we progress to the next venue, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the following match. In 2006-07, I was part of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a tendency of getting away from England quickly. At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from two down, which is why Brisbane is such a massive game. They must adapt, or the Ashes will be gone again.