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The Australian team to bounce back and win the opening Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what psychological damage will be left on the England team.

How will they respond for the rest of series?

Unexpected Turnaround

I believe no one anticipated what transpired on the weekend. When you examine the quantity of deliveries required to complete the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

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

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, England's choice of strokes was their big undoing. Scott Boland put in probably his worst performance in an Australia shirt in the first innings, then turned it around in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the recovery.

England's batters were out attempting to strike balls outside off stump, in the air, through the covers.

Attempting runs off those bowls, with those shots, is the precise action you just should avoid as a batter in Australia.

Adaptation Issues

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

There is much discussion about England's method, their aggressive style. I observed 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 sticking with that method.

It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a approach full of danger. If England do not reassess, they will struggle for the entire series.

Pacer's Viewpoint

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

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

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing them, aware a single error could result in 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 ability, but great players have the mental toughness and mindset to be flexible enough for the situation.

They would been stunned at the way events developed at the venue, devastated at the way they were defeated. 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 improve.

Pace Attack Issues

It was similar with their bowling. 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 backup strategy. Quite often it feels like England have one method, then nowhere to go if that fails.

'Where has this come from?' - The dismissal as England collapse in six balls

Head's Masterclass

In fairness to England's bowlers, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second fastest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, 12 balls behind Adam Gilchrist at the Waca 19 years ago – a match I participated in.

My former teammate Gilly said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Given the challenging nature of the pitch and the context of the game circumstances, Head's knock will go down as a highlight of Ashes history.

Strategic Decisions

It was a bold and brave move for Australia to promote the batsman up the order for the follow-on.

The opener has copped it for being unable to open in either innings. He had muscle issues after playing golf the previous day the Test, but I don't think the two were connected.

When the batsman failed on the opening day, Australia advanced Marnus Labuschagne and got bogged down.

In promoting Head, who has the confidence of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Future Considerations

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the second Test. I'd like to see them stick with the approach of attacking play at the top of the order.

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning someone like Beau Webster enters the batting lineup, or Head could go back to number five and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could go to the top. It would be difficult for Khawaja, but occasionally you have to do what the rival team would find most uncomfortable.

Tournament Perspective

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

The venue is essentially the quickest, liveliest pitch in the world, so the batters should get a some respite from here onward.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Recognition has to be awarded to the pacemen for delivering 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 move on to Brisbane, and the completely distinct twilight conditions for the second Test.

In 2006-07, I was a member of the Australia team that overwhelmed England to win 5-0. The rivalry in this country have a habit of getting away from England quickly.

At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no recovery from two down, which is why the venue is such a massive game.

They must adapt, or the Ashes will be gone again.