I'd Be Salivating Facing the English Team - McGrath

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The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the rest of series?

Unexpected Turnaround

I do not think no one anticipated what transpired on the weekend. When you examine the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

England were well on top at the midday break on the second 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 moment, England's choice of strokes was their major downfall. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an national colors in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the second to be the driving force for the recovery.

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

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

Adjustment Problems

It demonstrated that England had not done their preparation, are unable to adjust or are reluctant to adapt.

There is much discussion about England's approach, their aggressive style. I witnessed it firsthand during the recent series in the UK. Under their captain and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that strategy.

It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach full of danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will face difficulties for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

As a bowler, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.

I relied on my precision, backing myself to hit the identical area around off stump, with a some bounce and movement.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the idea of bowling to them, aware a single error could result in multiple wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have skill, but great players have the psychological strength and attitude to be flexible enough for the conditions.

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

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their bowling. England's bowling unit was very good on the first evening, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the following day.

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

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Brilliant Innings

In fairness to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the memorable Ashes innings by Travis Head.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca 19 years ago – a game I participated in.

My old mate Gilchrist said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the match situation, the innings will go down as a highlight of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.

The opener has faced criticism for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When Khawaja missed out on day one, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In promoting Head, who has the confidence of opening in white-ball cricket, 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 continue the approach of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like the all-rounder comes into the batting lineup, or return to number five and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could move to the top. It would be difficult for the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.

Series Outlook

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

The venue is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the world, so the batsmen should get a some respite from now on.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be given to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Pivotal Match

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the following match.

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

At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.

They must adapt, or the historic urn will be lost again.

Michelle Jackson
Michelle Jackson

Rafael is a passionate gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in the Portuguese betting industry, specializing in strategy development.