I Would Be Salivating Facing the English Team - 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 left on the England team.
How will they respond for the remaining series?
Surprising Comeback
I believe anyone expected what transpired on the weekend. When you examine the number of overs required to complete the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.
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 doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult 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 second to be the driving force for the comeback.
England's batters were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers.
Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those shots, is the one thing you just do not do as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It showed that England had not done their homework, are not able to adjust or are reluctant to adapt.
There is much discussion about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I observed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and their coach, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that strategy.
It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the whole series.
Bowling Perspective
As a bowler, I would have always felt in the game 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 performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing them, aware a single error could bring three or four wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and attitude to be adaptable enough for the situation.
They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at the venue, devastated at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them adapt, just to show they can get better.
Pace Attack Issues
It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's attack was very good on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the second night.
In Test cricket, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often it seems England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that fails.
'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in quick succession
Brilliant Innings
In defense to England's bowlers, 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 man in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground previously – a match I played in.
My former teammate Gilchrist 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, Head's knock will be remembered as a moment of Ashes history.
Strategic Decisions
It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being unable to open in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.
When the batsman missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.
In moving the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening in limited overs, 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 stick with the approach of aggression at the beginning.
That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like the all-rounder comes into the batting lineup, or Head could go back to his position and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could move to the top. It would be tough on 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 rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.
Perth Stadium is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the world, so the batsmen should get a little bit of respite from here onward.
It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batters on both sides will need to look at how they got themselves out.
Crucial Next Test
Now we progress to the next venue, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the second Test.
In the historic series, I was part of the national side that dominated England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a habit of getting away from England rapidly.
At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.
They need to adjust, or the historic urn will be gone again.