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The Australian team to fight back and win the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be inflicted upon 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 quantity of deliveries taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at lunch on the second day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an Australia shirt in the first innings, then turned it around in the second to be the catalyst for the comeback.

England's batters were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, on the up, towards cover region.

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 failed to complete their preparation, are unable to adapt or are reluctant to change approach.

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I observed it firsthand during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under their captain and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that method.

It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a approach full of danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the whole series.

Bowling Perspective

As a bowler, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.

I relied on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the same spot around off stump, with a bit of bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of bowling to them, aware a single error could result in three or four wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, but great players have the psychological strength and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a true blue Australian, part of me wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.

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 put under pressure on the following day.

In Test cricket, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have one method, then no alternatives if that fails.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England collapse in quick succession

Brilliant Innings

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

His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground previously – a game I participated in.

My old mate Gilchrist said the performance was the superior of the two. I agree. 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.

Strategic Decisions

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to promote Head up the order for the second innings.

Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

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

In promoting Head, who has the experience of opening in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Future Considerations

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the approach of aggression at the beginning.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to his position and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was dominated by the pace attack, questions arise if the remaining series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

The venue is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the world, so the batsmen should get a little bit of respite from here onward.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Credit has to be given to the bowlers for delivering the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Pivotal Match

Now we move on to Brisbane, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the following match.

In 2006-07, I was a member of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. The rivalry in this nation have a tendency of slipping from England quickly.

At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from two down, which is why Brisbane is such a massive game.

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