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The Australian team to bounce back and win the first Ashes Test as decisively as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the rest of series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe anyone anticipated what transpired on the weekend. When you look at the number of overs taken to complete the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the second day, leading by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked so tough for Australia to re-enter the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, 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 comeback.

England's batters were out trying to hit balls outside off stump, in the air, towards cover region.

Attempting runs off those bowls, with those shots, is the precise action you just do not do as a batsman in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

It showed that England had not done their homework, are unable to adjust 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 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and their coach, they can be pretty stubborn when it comes to sticking with that method.

It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method full of danger. If England do not reassess, they will face difficulties for the whole series.

Bowling Perspective

As a bowler, I would have always felt in the game against this England team.

I relied 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 eagerly anticipating at the prospect 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 talented individuals. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and mindset to be flexible enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at the venue, crushed at the way they were defeated. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat 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 bowling unit was excellent 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 Plan B. Frequently it seems England have one method, then no alternatives if that fails.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root 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 the Australian batsman.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, two overs behind the legendary keeper at the Waca 19 years ago – a match I played in.

My former teammate Gilchrist said the performance was the better of the two. I concur. Considering the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the game situation, the innings will be remembered as a moment of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head in the lineup for the second innings.

The opener has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When the batsman missed out on day one, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In promoting the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Future Considerations

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them continue the method of aggression at the beginning.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as the all-rounder comes into the middle order, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could move to the opening. It would be tough on Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most challenging.

Tournament Perspective

After the first Test was dominated by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of 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 some respite from here onward.

It is not all about the wicket. 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 were dismissed.

Pivotal Match

Now we progress to the next venue, and the completely distinct day-night conditions for the second Test.

In 2006-07, I was part of the national side that overwhelmed 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 the venue is such a massive game.

They must adapt, or the Ashes will be gone again.