I'd Be Licking My Lips Facing the English Team - McGrath
- Published
- 4 Comments
The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what psychological damage will be left on the England team.
How will they respond for the rest of series?
Unexpected Turnaround
I believe anyone expected what happened on the weekend. When you look at the number of overs required to complete the game, it was the longest format on accelerated pace.
England were clearly dominant at lunch on the second day, leading by 105 runs with nine 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 point, England's shot selection was their big undoing. The Australian bowler 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 comeback.
England's batters were out trying to hit balls wide of off-stump, in the air, towards cover region.
Trying to score off those deliveries, with those shots, is the precise action you just do not do as a batter in Australia.
Adaptation Issues
It demonstrated that England had not done their homework, are not able to adapt or are unwilling to change approach.
There is much discussion about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it up close during the recent series in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to adhering to that method.
It is fine on slow, low pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method full of danger. If England do not reassess, they will face difficulties for the entire series.
Pacer's Viewpoint
As a bowler, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.
I depended on my accuracy, backing myself to land the identical area around off stump, with a some bounce and nip.
Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of bowling to them, knowing a single error could bring three or four wickets.
Skill and Resilience
There are occasions when England can be a high-quality team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, 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, devastated 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 improve.
Bowling Concerns
It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was very good on the opening day, then lost direction when they were attacked on the second night.
In the longest format, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Frequently it feels like England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that does not work.
'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in six balls
Head's Masterclass
In defense to England's pace attack, they were hit by one of the memorable Ashes innings by Travis Head.
His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Perth ground previously – a match I played in.
My old mate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I agree. Given the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the match situation, Head's knock will go down as a moment of Ashes history.
Tactical Moves
It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head up the order for the follow-on.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.
When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.
In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the confidence 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 second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the method of aggression at the top of the order.
That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the middle order, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could go to the opening. It would be tough on Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.
Series Outlook
After the opening match was dominated by the pace attack, some are wondering if the rest of 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 some relief from here onward.
It is not all about the pitch. Credit has to be awarded to the pacemen for delivering the ball in the right place consistently. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they were dismissed.
Crucial Next Test
Now we move on to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the following match.
In the historic series, I was part of the national side that dominated England to achieve 5-0. The rivalry in this nation have a tendency of getting away from England rapidly.
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 massive game.
They must adapt, or the Ashes will be gone again.