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For Australia to fight back and claim victory in the opening Ashes Test as decisively 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 expected what happened on the weekend. When you examine the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at the midday break on the following day, 105 ahead with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still doing plenty. It looked extremely difficult for Australia to get back into the match.

Batting Mistakes

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 completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the comeback.

England's batsmen were out trying to hit balls wide of off-stump, in the air, towards cover region.

Trying to score off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the one thing you just do not do as a batsman in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

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

There is a lot of talk about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under their captain 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 quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the entire series.

Pacer's Viewpoint

As a bowler, I would have consistently believed in the game against this England team.

I depended on my precision, backing myself to hit the same spot around off stump, with a some bounce and nip.

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

Skill and Resilience

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have talented individuals. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the psychological strength and attitude to be flexible enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way events developed at the venue, crushed 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 get better.

Bowling Concerns

It was almost the same with their bowling. England's bowling unit was very good on the first evening, then lost direction when they were attacked on the following day.

In Test cricket, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often it feels like England have one method, then nowhere to go if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England collapse in quick succession

Brilliant Innings

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

His 69-ball hundred was the second quickest by an Australian man in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Waca previously – a game I played in.

My old mate Gilchrist said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Considering the difficulty of the wicket and the context of the game circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a moment of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

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

The opener has copped it for being failing to start in either innings. He had back spasms after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I do not believe the two were connected.

When Khawaja missed out on day one, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got stuck.

In moving the aggressive batsman, who has the experience of opening 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 second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the method of attacking play at the beginning.

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like the all-rounder enters the batting lineup, or return to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

After the opening match was dominated by the pace attack, questions arise if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

Perth Stadium is essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the global cricket, so the batsmen should get a little bit of respite from now on.

It is not all about the pitch. Credit has to be given to the bowlers for getting the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batters on each team will need to look at how they were dismissed.

Crucial Next Test

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

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

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

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