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For Australia to fight back and win 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 rest of series?

Surprising Comeback

I do not think anyone expected what happened on Saturday. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to finish the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were clearly dominant at lunch on the following day, leading by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand. The playing surface was still offering assistance. It looked so tough for Australia to re-enter the match.

Batting Mistakes

From that moment, England's shot selection was their big undoing. The Australian bowler put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the driving force for the recovery.

England's batsmen were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, on the up, through the covers.

Trying to score off those deliveries, with those strokes, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.

Adjustment Problems

It showed that England had failed to complete their homework, are unable to adapt or are unwilling to adapt.

There is much discussion about England's method, their aggressive style. I witnessed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under their captain and their coach, they can be quite rigid when it comes to adhering to that method.

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.

Bowling Perspective

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

I depended on my precision, having confidence to land the identical area around off stump, with a bit of bounce and nip.

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

Skill and Resilience

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

They would been stunned at the way events developed at the venue, crushed 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 change, just to show they can get better.

Pace Attack Issues

It was almost the same with their bowling. England's attack was very good on the first evening, then lost direction when they were put under pressure on the second night.

In the longest format, all disciplines require a backup strategy. Frequently it seems England have one method, then nowhere to go if that fails.

'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in quick succession

Brilliant Innings

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 quickest by an Australian batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a game I participated in.

My old mate Gilchrist said the performance was the better of the two. I agree. Given the difficulty of the pitch and the situation of the match situation, Head's knock will go down as a highlight of Ashes history.

Tactical Moves

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to elevate Head in the lineup for the follow-on.

The opener has copped it for being unable to open in both attempts. He had back spasms after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were linked.

When Khawaja failed on day one, Australia promoted their number three and got bogged down.

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

Upcoming Decisions

Now there is the issue of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them continue the approach of aggression at the beginning.

That could mean Head remains, meaning someone like Beau Webster comes into the middle order, or return to his position and Mitchell Marsh or the keeper could move to the top. It would be tough on Khawaja, but sometimes you have to do what the rival team would find most challenging.

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.

The venue is pretty much the quickest, liveliest pitch in the world, so the batters should get a some respite from now on.

It is not entirely about the wicket. Credit has to be awarded to the bowlers for getting the ball in the right place consistently. Overall, batters on each team will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we move on to the next venue, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the following match.

In 2006-07, I was part of the national side that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. Ashes series in this nation have a tendency of slipping from England rapidly.

At the moment, England are only 1-0 down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why Brisbane is such a crucial game.

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