Ah, yes, the age-old debate between batters and bowlers.

Blame for low scoring is often attributed to conditions or poor batting, often doing a disservice to the quality of bowling.

Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets in the match at Perth, made this point and was keen to talk up the quality of the bowling from both teams.

In terms of wickets falling more regularly and cheaply in Australia in recent years, some credit must be given to the home attack, one of the finest of all time: Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.

The art of batting has also changed because of the influence of shorter formats of the game.

A modern player is more likely to tackle difficult conditions with aggression than try to survive with solid defence, patience and determination.

Writing on X before the first Ashes Test, former England batter Kevin Pietersen said: “Batters grow up now to hit sixes and play switch-hits. They don’t grow up to build an innings and learn the art of survival.

“The player is not to blame at all as it is exactly where the modern day game is. The game of cricket is now about bright lights, loud music and a financial return for cricket boards, private equity and private ownership.

“I wish more power to the players to make as much $$$$ as they can, whilst they can. Keep hitting sixes and switch-hits and growing your bank accounts, dudes!”

On the latest Tailenders podcast, Sir James Anderson explained how batting coaching Graham Gooch guided the 2010-11 England group and how the current squad may need to adapt.

“I remember in the 2010 series we lost in Perth, it was the Waca, but a similar pitch and Graham Gooch was the batting coach and he’d said the cover drive is a really hard shot to play from length because of the bounce,” said Anderson.

“I’m sure England will be thinking this as well – I don’t have an issue with them trying to attack, that is the way they play.

“The players will be given licence to play the way you want to play, it is up to you as a player to work out that these conditions are different to what we’re used to.”