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For Australia to fight back and win the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what psychological damage will be inflicted upon the England team.

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

Surprising Comeback

I believe no one anticipated what happened on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

England were well on top at lunch on the second day, 105 ahead with nine wickets in hand. The playing surface was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to re-enter the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that point, England's shot selection was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in arguably his poorest performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the second to be the driving force for the recovery.

England's batters were out trying to hit balls wide of off-stump, on the up, through the covers.

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

Adjustment Problems

It demonstrated 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 observed it firsthand 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 strategy.

It is acceptable on slow, low pitches. On the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia it is a approach full of danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

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

I relied on my precision, backing myself to hit the same spot on or outside off stump, with a some bounce and movement.

Even if this England team was going well, I'd be licking my lips at the idea of facing them, aware one mistake could bring three or four wickets.

Skill and Resilience

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Good players have skill, but great players have the psychological strength and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at the venue, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are capable of. Even as a true blue Australian, I somewhat wants to see them adapt, just to show they can improve.

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their pace attack. England's bowling unit was excellent on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the second night.

In Test cricket, all aspects require a backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have a single approach, then no alternatives if that fails.

'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 the Australian batsman.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian batsman in Ashes cricket, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca previously – a match I played in.

My old mate Gilly said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Considering the challenging nature of the pitch and the situation of the game circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a highlight of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

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

Usman Khawaja has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing the sport the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When the batsman missed out on the opening day, Australia promoted Marnus Labuschagne 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.

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 approach of aggression at the top of the order.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and Mitchell Marsh or Josh Inglis could go to the opening. It would be tough on Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the opening match was dominated by the bowlers, questions arise if the rest of series will be brief, low-run Tests.

The venue is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of respite from here onward.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas so often. Overall, batsmen on each team will need to look at how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we progress to Brisbane, and the vastly different day-night conditions for the following match.

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

At the moment, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a crucial game.

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