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The Australian team to fight back and claim victory in the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, you wonder what scars will be left on 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 look at the number of overs taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on accelerated pace.

England were well on top at lunch on the following day, leading by 105 runs with most wickets in hand. The pitch was still offering assistance. It looked so tough for Australia to get back into the match.

Shot Selection Woes

From that moment, England's shot selection was their major downfall. Scott Boland put in arguably his poorest performance in an Australia shirt in the initial batting, then completely reversed in the subsequent innings to be the catalyst for the recovery.

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

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

Adaptation Issues

It demonstrated that England had failed to complete their homework, are not able to adjust or are unwilling to change approach.

There is much discussion about England's approach, their attacking philosophy. I observed 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 method.

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

Bowling Perspective

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

I relied on my accuracy, backing myself to land the identical area on or outside off stump, with a bit of bounce and movement.

Even if this England team was performing strongly, I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing them, knowing a single error could result in three or four wickets.

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are times when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Good players have skill, but great players have the mental toughness and mindset to be adaptable enough for the conditions.

They would been stunned at the way things unfolded at the venue, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a loyal 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 attack was excellent on the opening day, then lost the plot when they were put under pressure on the following day.

In Test cricket, all disciplines 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?' - The dismissal as England lose third wicket in quick succession

Brilliant Innings

In defense to England's pace attack, they were hit by one of the great Ashes innings by the Australian batsman.

His century off 69 deliveries was the second quickest by an Australian man in Ashes cricket, two overs behind Adam Gilchrist at the Perth ground 19 years ago – a game I participated in.

My old mate Gilly said the performance was the superior of the two. I concur. Considering the challenging nature of the wicket and the context of the match circumstances, the innings will be remembered as a moment of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

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

The opener 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 do not believe the two were linked.

When the batsman failed on the opening day, Australia advanced their number three and got bogged down.

In moving Head, who has the experience of starting in limited overs, Australia were able to go on offensive to England.

Upcoming Decisions

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

That could mean continuation at the top, meaning a player such as Beau Webster enters the middle order, or Head could go back to his position and the all-rounder or the keeper could go to the opening. It would be tough on the batsman, but occasionally 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 relief from now on.

It is not entirely about the pitch. Credit has to be awarded to the pacemen for getting the ball in the right place so often. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they got themselves out.

Crucial Next Test

Now we move on to the next venue, and the vastly different day-night conditions for the following match.

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 slipping from England rapidly.

At the present, England are just one match down. There would be no coming back from 2-0, which is why the venue is such a massive game.

They must adapt, or the historic urn will be gone again.