I'd Be Salivating Bowling to the English Team - Glenn McGrath

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The Australian team to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.

What are they going to do for the rest of series?

Unexpected Turnaround

I do not think anyone expected what transpired on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries taken to finish the game, it was the longest format 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 playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, 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 turned it around in the second to be the catalyst for the recovery.

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

Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the precise action you just do not do as a batsman in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

It demonstrated 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 aggressive style. I observed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that strategy.

It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

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

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

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the prospect of facing them, knowing one mistake could bring three or four wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Good players have ability, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way events developed at Perth Stadium, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them change, just to show they can get better.

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's attack was very good on the first evening, then lost direction when they were attacked on the second night.

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Frequently it seems England have one method, then nowhere to go if that fails.

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Brilliant Innings

In defense to England's bowlers, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by Travis Head.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground previously – a game 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 circumstances, the innings will go down as a moment of cricket lore.

Tactical Moves

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.

Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

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

In promoting Head, who has the experience of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them stick with the approach of aggression at the top of the order.

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as the all-rounder enters the middle order, or return to number five and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could move to the top. It would be tough on Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was dominated by the bowlers, questions arise if the remaining series will be brief, low-run Tests.

Perth Stadium is essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a little bit of respite from now on.

It is not all about the pitch. Recognition has to be given to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the correct areas so often. In general, 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 vastly different day-night conditions for the second Test.

In the historic series, I was a member of the national side that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this country have a habit of slipping from England quickly.

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

They need to adjust, or the Ashes will be gone once more.