I Would Be Licking My Lips Bowling to the English Team - Glenn McGrath
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For Australia to fight back and claim victory in the first 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 remaining series?
Surprising Comeback
I believe no one expected what transpired on Saturday. When you look at the quantity of deliveries taken to complete the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.
England were well on top at the midday break on the following 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.
Batting Mistakes
From that moment, England's shot selection was their major downfall. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the recovery.
England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, in the air, towards cover region.
Attempting runs off those deliveries, with those shots, is the one thing you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It demonstrated that England had failed to complete their homework, are not able to adjust or are unwilling to change approach.
There is a lot of talk about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it up close 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 quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will face difficulties for the whole series.
Pacer's Viewpoint
As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.
I depended on my precision, backing myself 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 result in three or four wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Good players have skill, but great players have the psychological strength and attitude to be flexible enough for the situation.
They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at the venue, devastated 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 change, just to show they can get better.
Bowling Concerns
It was similar with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was excellent on the first evening, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.
In Test cricket, all disciplines require a Plan B. Quite often it seems England have one method, then no alternatives if that fails.
'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in quick succession
Head's Masterclass
In defense to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.
His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a game I played in.
My former teammate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the better of the two. I agree. Given the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the game circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a moment of Ashes history.
Strategic Decisions
It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head in the lineup for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had back spasms 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 advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.
In promoting Head, who has the confidence of starting in limited overs, Australia were able to take the attack to England.
Future Considerations
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 aggression at the top of the order.
That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like Beau Webster enters the middle order, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could move to the top. It would be tough on the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.
Series Outlook
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 pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the world, so the batters should get a little bit of relief from here onward.
It is not entirely about the wicket. Credit has to be awarded to the pacemen for delivering the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batters on each team will need to analyze how they were dismissed.
Pivotal Match
Now we progress to the next venue, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the following match.
In 2006-07, I was part of the national side that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of slipping 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 need to adjust, or the Ashes will be lost once more.