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The Australian team to bounce back and win the first Ashes Test as decisively as they did, you wonder what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.

What are they going to do for the rest of series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one expected what happened on Saturday. When you look at the number of overs taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at lunch 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 re-enter the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that point, 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 turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the recovery.

England's batsmen were out trying to hit balls wide of off-stump, on the up, towards cover region.

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

Adaptation Issues

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

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I witnessed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that method.

It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, they will struggle for the whole series.

Bowling Perspective

As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the contest against this England team.

I depended on my precision, backing myself to hit the identical area on or outside 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 facing them, knowing 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. Competent cricketers have skill, but great players have the mental toughness and attitude to be adaptable enough for the situation.

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

Pace Attack Issues

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 second night.

In the longest format, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Quite often it seems England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England collapse in six balls

Brilliant Innings

In fairness to England's bowlers, 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, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground previously – a match I participated in.

My old mate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the better of the two. I concur. Given the difficulty of the wicket and the situation of the match circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a moment of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman in the lineup for the second innings.

The opener has copped it for being failing to start in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing the sport the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

When Khawaja failed on day one, Australia promoted their number three and got bogged down.

In moving Head, who has the confidence of opening in limited overs, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Upcoming Decisions

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

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or Head could go back to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could move to the opening. It would be difficult for the batsman, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.

Tournament Perspective

After the opening match was controlled by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

Perth Stadium is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of respite from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we move on to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the second Test.

In 2006-07, I was a member of the national side that dominated England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of slipping from England quickly.

At the present, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no coming back from two down, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.

They must adapt, or the historic urn will be gone once more.