The Ashes: Ian Healy implores England to learn lessons from India’s top-order batting for Perth series opener

Watch how India’s top order failed to handle Australia’s quicks on the bouncy Optus Stadium deck on Sunday, and learn from it.

That’s Ian Healy’s warning for England, precisely one month out from the start of a defining Ashes series in Perth, after batting proved difficult in the early stages of the weekend’s ODI fixture.

Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc did the damage as India lost four wickets, including Virat Kohli for a duck, inside the opening 14 overs, with the visitors navigating the conditions poorly having arrived Down Under just four days prior.

It followed a similarly bowler-friendly start to last year’s West Test, which saw India rolled for 150 inside 50 overs on an opening day that featured a remarkable 17 wickets falling.

Healy, who played 119 Tests for Australia, implored England to respect and adapt to the conditions and play patiently rather than look to take the game on with their “Bazball” mantra from the get-go.

“You will see how you look when you’re underdone in Perth. I hope England watch it,” Healy said on SEN.

“It was swinging and bouncing. All the batsmen were playing outrageous shots and getting caught.

“England, watch out, you’re doing the same thing. They’re coming in underdone and our fast bowlers looked fresh and sharp (on Sunday).”

Hazlewood, who took 2-20 on Sunday, encouraged Perth’s curators to follow the same recipe as the ODI pitch for the Ashes opener.

“For sure,” Hazlewood told The Age when asked if he wanted a similar pitch for the first Ashes Test. “Perth always offers some nice bounce and pace which has served us well in the past, especially with our bowlers who all offer something different.

“It was a nice start. (My) rhythm felt good off the back of New Zealand. Everything is feeling good at the moment, a nice way to start the build (to the Ashes).”

Healy said the November 21 Ashes opener loomed as the most important fixture of the five-match series for the tourists.

England haven’t won a Test in Australia since 2011, and haven’t saluted in an Ashes opener Down Under since all the way back in 1986.

“Are England going to win a Test? Yes, but I think it will be close, maybe 2-2,” Healy said.

“Perth is the most important Test. If England lose in Perth they will lose 3-1. Win in Perth it’s 2-2.”

Healy backed Marnus Labuschagne to be Usman Khawaja’s opening partner after the Queenslander’s return to form in the lead-in to the series.

“Marnus can open and he’s happy to go wherever selectors want him. I’ve got him at 1 and Khawaja at 2. (Sam) Konstas comes in when Uzzie retires,” he said.

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