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The Australian team to fight back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one anticipated 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 well on top at the midday break on the second day, leading by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand. The playing surface was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, England's shot selection was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the second to be the catalyst for the comeback.

England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls outside 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 batter in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had not done their preparation, are unable to adapt or are reluctant to adapt.

There is much discussion about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. 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 strategy.

It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England fail to reconsider, 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 relied on my precision, having confidence to hit the identical area around off stump, with a some bounce and nip.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be eagerly anticipating at the idea of facing them, aware one mistake could result in multiple wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have ability, but great players have the psychological strength and attitude 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 defeated. 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.

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 following day.

In Test cricket, all disciplines require a Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then nowhere to go if that fails.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England collapse in six balls

Brilliant Innings

In defense to England's pace attack, they were confronted with one of the memorable Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.

His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca previously – a match I participated in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the wicket and the situation of the match situation, Head's knock will go down as a moment of Ashes history.

Strategic Decisions

It was a courageous move for Australia to promote the batsman up the order for the second innings.

The opener has copped it for being unable to open in both attempts. He had muscle issues after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When the batsman failed on day one, Australia advanced their number three and got bogged down.

In moving Head, who has the confidence of starting 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 next match. I'd like to see them stick with the method of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or return to his position and the all-rounder or the keeper could move to the top. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.

Series Outlook

After the first Test was controlled by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.

The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a some respite from here onward.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for delivering the ball in the right place so often. In general, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we move on to Brisbane, and the vastly different twilight conditions for the second Test.

In 2006-07, I was a member of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to achieve 5-0. Ashes series in this country have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.

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.