I Would Be Licking My Lips Bowling to the English Team - Glenn McGrath

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For Australia to bounce back and win the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be inflicted upon the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe anyone anticipated what happened on Saturday. When you examine the quantity of deliveries taken to complete the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

England were well on top at lunch 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 major downfall. 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 comeback.

England's batters were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, on the up, through the covers.

Trying to score off those bowls, with those shots, is the one thing you just should avoid as a batsman in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had failed to complete their homework, are unable to adapt or are reluctant to change approach.

There is much discussion about England's approach, their aggressive style. I observed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to sticking with that method.

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 face difficulties for the whole series.

Pacer's Viewpoint

As a paceman, I would have always felt in the contest against this England team.

I depended on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the same spot around off stump, with a some bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing them, knowing a single error could bring multiple wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have ability, but great players have the mental toughness and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at Perth Stadium, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are made 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 bowling unit was excellent on the opening day, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.

In Test cricket, all aspects require a backup strategy. Quite often it seems England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

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Head's Masterclass

In fairness to England's pace attack, they were hit by one of the memorable Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.

His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca previously – a game I participated in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I agree. Considering the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the game circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a moment of cricket lore.

Tactical Moves

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman up the order for the second innings.

Usman Khawaja 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 connected.

When Khawaja missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.

In moving the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Upcoming Decisions

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

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as the all-rounder enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could move to the opening. It would be tough on the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was controlled by the bowlers, some are wondering if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.

The venue is essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of relief from here onward.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be given to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Pivotal Match

Now we move on to the next venue, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the second Test.

In the historic series, I was a member of the Australia team that dominated England to win 5-0. The rivalry in this nation have a tendency of slipping from England quickly.

At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a massive game.

They must adapt, or the Ashes will be lost once more.

Michele Vaughan
Michele Vaughan

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