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 first Ashes Test as decisively as they did, one questions 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 no one expected what happened on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at the midday break on the second day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the second to be the driving force for the recovery.

England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, on the up, towards cover region.

Trying to score off those deliveries, with those shots, is the precise action you just do not do 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 approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that strategy.

It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the whole series.

Bowling Perspective

As a bowler, I would have consistently believed in the contest against this England team.

I depended on my accuracy, 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, aware one mistake could result in three or four wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Good players have skill, but great players 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, crushed at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them change, just to show they can get better.

Bowling Concerns

It was similar with their bowling. England's attack was very good on the first evening, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the following day.

In the longest format, all aspects require a backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

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Head's Masterclass

In defense to England's bowlers, they were confronted with one of the memorable 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 previously – a game I played in.

My former teammate Gilly said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the game situation, the innings 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 follow-on.

Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When the batsman missed out on day one, 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.

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the approach of attacking play at the beginning.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like Beau Webster comes into the batting lineup, or return to number five and the all-rounder or the keeper could go to the opening. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.

Tournament Perspective

After the opening match was controlled by the bowlers, some are wondering if the remaining series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the world, so the batsmen should get a some relief from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Credit has to be given to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batters on each team will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Crucial Next Test

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the second Test.

In the historic series, I was part of the Australia team that dominated England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a habit of getting away from England rapidly.

At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.

They must adapt, or the historic urn will be lost again.

Helen Tucker
Helen Tucker

Elara is a historian and leadership coach with over a decade of experience in guiding individuals through transformative strategic journeys.