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For Australia to bounce back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Unexpected Turnaround

I do not think anyone anticipated what transpired on the weekend. When you look at the number of overs taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were clearly dominant at the midday break on the second day, leading by 105 runs with most wickets in hand. The playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings 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.

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

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had not done their homework, are not able to adjust or are reluctant to change approach.

There is a lot of talk about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it firsthand 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 acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with 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 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 bowling to them, aware a single error could bring three or four wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are times when England can be a high-quality team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have ability, but great players have the psychological strength and attitude to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were defeated. 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 attacked on the second night.

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Frequently 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 lose third wicket in six balls

Head's Masterclass

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

His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a game I participated in.

My former teammate Gilchrist said Head's innings was the superior of the two. I agree. Given the difficulty of the pitch and the situation of the game situation, the innings will be remembered as a highlight of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

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

Usman Khawaja has faced criticism for being failing to start in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing golf the day before the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When the batsman missed out on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In promoting Head, who has the confidence of opening in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Future Considerations

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

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as Beau Webster comes into the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could go to the opening. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the opening match was controlled by the pace attack, some are wondering if the remaining series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

Perth Stadium is pretty much the fastest, bounciest pitch in the world, so the batsmen should get a some respite from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Credit has to be given to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batters on both sides 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 following match.

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

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

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