The Australian team to bounce back and claim victory in the first Ashes Test as decisively as they did, one questions what scars will be left on the England team.
What are they going to do for the rest of series?
I believe no one expected what transpired on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries 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 most wickets in hand. The playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.
From that point, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the recovery.
England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, on the up, towards cover region.
Attempting runs off those bowls, with those strokes, is the precise action you just do not do as a batter in Australia.
It demonstrated that England had not done their homework, are not able to adapt or are reluctant to adapt.
There is a lot of talk about England's method, their aggressive style. I observed 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 adhering to that strategy.
It is fine on slow, low 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.
As a paceman, I would have consistently believed in the contest against this England team.
I depended on my precision, backing myself to land the same spot around off stump, with a bit of bounce and movement.
Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing them, aware one mistake could bring three or four wickets.
There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and attitude to be flexible enough for the situation.
They would been shellshocked at the way events developed at the venue, devastated 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 improve.
It was similar with their pace attack. England's attack was very good on the opening day, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.
In the longest format, all aspects 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?' - Starc bowls Root as England collapse in quick succession
In fairness to England's bowlers, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.
His 69-ball hundred was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Waca previously – a game I participated in.
My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the match situation, the innings will be remembered as a moment of cricket lore.
It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate the batsman up the order for the second innings.
Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I do not believe the two were linked.
When the batsman failed on the opening day, Australia advanced their number three and got stuck.
In moving the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of starting in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.
Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the next match. 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 the all-rounder enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could move to the top. It would be tough on Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.
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 essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a some relief from here onward.
It is not entirely about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they were dismissed.
Now we progress to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the second Test.
In the historic series, I was a member of the national side that dominated England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a habit of slipping from England quickly.
At the moment, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no recovery from two down, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.
They need to adjust, or the historic urn will be lost again.
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
