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The Australian team to bounce back and win the first Ashes Test so convincingly as they did, one questions what scars will be inflicted upon the England team.

What are they going to do for the remaining series?

Surprising Comeback

I believe anyone anticipated what happened on Saturday. When you examine the number of overs taken to finish the game, it was the longest format on fast forward.

England were well on top at the midday break 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 choice of strokes was their major downfall. 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 batters were out attempting to strike balls wide of off-stump, on the up, through the covers.

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

Adaptation Issues

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

There is a lot of talk about England's method, their attacking philosophy. I witnessed it up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they can be quite rigid when it comes to sticking with that strategy.

It is fine on sluggish pitches. On the quick, lively pitches of Australia it is a method fraught with danger. If England do not reassess, they will face difficulties for the entire series.

Bowling Perspective

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

I relied on my accuracy, having confidence to hit the identical area around off stump, with a some bounce and movement.

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

Quality and Mental Toughness

There are occasions when England can be a top-class team. They have good players. Competent cricketers have skill, but exceptional athletes have the mental toughness and mindset to be flexible enough for the conditions.

They would been shellshocked at the way things unfolded at Perth Stadium, devastated at the way they were beaten. Now we will see what they are made of. Even as a loyal Australian, part of me 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 very good on the opening day, then lost direction when they were attacked on the second night.

In the longest format, all aspects require a Plan B. Quite often it seems England have one method, then no alternatives if that does not work.

'Where has this come from?' - Starc bowls Root as England collapse in six balls

Brilliant Innings

In fairness 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 batsman in the historic rivalry, 12 balls behind the legendary keeper at the Waca 19 years ago – a game I played in.

My former teammate Gilly said Head's innings was the better of the two. I concur. Given the difficulty of the wicket and the situation of the match circumstances, the innings will go down as a highlight of cricket lore.

Strategic Decisions

It was a courageous move for Australia to elevate the batsman in the lineup for the follow-on.

The opener has faced criticism 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 linked.

When Khawaja failed on the opening day, Australia promoted their number three and got stuck.

In promoting Head, who has the experience of starting in white-ball cricket, Australia were able to take the attack to England.

Future Considerations

Now there is the question of what Australia will do for the next match. I'd like to see them stick with the method of aggression at the beginning.

That could mean Head remains, meaning a player such as Beau Webster comes into the middle order, or Head could go back to his position and the all-rounder or Josh Inglis could move to the top. It would be tough on the batsman, but sometimes you have to do what the opposition would find most uncomfortable.

Series Outlook

After the opening match was controlled by the pace attack, some are wondering if the rest of series will be short, low-scoring Tests.

The venue is essentially the fastest, bounciest pitch in the global cricket, so the batters should get a little bit of relief from now on.

It is not all about the wicket. Recognition has to be given to the pacemen for getting the ball in the correct areas consistently. In general, batsmen on both sides will need to analyze how they were dismissed.

Crucial Next Test

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

In the historic series, I was part of the national side that dominated England to win 5-0. The rivalry in this country have a habit of slipping from England rapidly.

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

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