I'd Be Salivating Facing the English Team - Glenn McGrath

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The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the first Ashes Test as decisively as they did, you wonder what scars will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one expected what happened on Saturday. When you examine the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.

England were clearly dominant at lunch on the second day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that point, England's shot selection was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an national colors in the first innings, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the comeback.

England's batsmen were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers.

Trying to score off those deliveries, with those shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It showed that England had not done their preparation, are not able to adapt or are reluctant to adapt.

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I witnessed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that method.

It is fine on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with 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, having confidence to hit the identical area on or outside off stump, with a bit of bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the idea of facing them, knowing a single error could result in multiple wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and mindset to be flexible enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a loyal 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 attack was very good on the first evening, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.

In the longest format, all disciplines require a Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have one method, then no alternatives if that fails.

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Brilliant Innings

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

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

My former teammate Gilly said the performance was the better of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the match circumstances, the innings will go down as a highlight of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

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 unable to open in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

When the batsman failed on day one, Australia advanced their number three and got bogged down.

In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of starting in limited overs, Australia were able to take the attack 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 attacking play at the beginning.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like the all-rounder comes into the batting lineup, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could go to the opening. It would be tough on the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was dominated by the pace attack, some are wondering if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

The venue is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a little bit of respite from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be given to the pacemen for delivering the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the vastly different day-night conditions for the following match.

In the historic series, I was part of the Australia team that dominated England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this country have a habit of slipping from England quickly.

At the present, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.

They need to adjust, or the Ashes will be lost again.