I'd Be Licking My Lips Bowling to England - McGrath
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The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what scars will be left on the England team.
What are they going to do for the remaining series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I do not think no one anticipated what transpired on the weekend. When you look at the number of overs taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.
England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the following day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.
Shot Selection Woes
From that point, England's shot selection was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the first innings, 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 shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It demonstrated that England had not done their preparation, are unable to adjust or are reluctant to change approach.
There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to sticking with that strategy.
It is acceptable on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the whole series.
Pacer's Viewpoint
As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.
I relied on my accuracy, backing myself to land the identical area on or outside off stump, with a some bounce and movement.
Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of facing them, knowing one mistake could bring three or four wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and mindset to be flexible enough for the situation.
They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at the venue, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a loyal Australian, I somewhat wants to see them adapt, 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 the plot when they were attacked on the following day.
In Test cricket, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that fails.
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Brilliant Innings
In fairness to England's bowlers, 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 batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca previously – a match I participated in.
My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the better of the two. I agree. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the context of the game situation, the innings will go down as a highlight of Ashes history.
Strategic Decisions
It was a bold and brave move for Australia to promote the batsman in the lineup for the second innings.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being unable to open in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.
When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.
In promoting Head, who has the confidence of opening 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 second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the method of attacking play at the beginning.
That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into 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 tough on the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.
Tournament Perspective
After the opening match was dominated by the bowlers, questions arise if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.
The venue is essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the world, 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 getting the ball in the right place so often. Overall, batsmen on both sides will need to look at how they got themselves out.
Crucial Next Test
Now we progress to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the second Test.
In the historic series, I was part of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a tendency of slipping 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 crucial game.
They must adapt, or the historic urn will be gone once more.