Josh Kempton: England’s pedestrian bowling attack must improve sharply to keep their side in The Ashes

If England’s vaunted bowling attack had been anywhere near their best when the pink ball was at its hardest early on day two, the tourists could have had the second Test of The Ashes at their mercy.

Instead, it was Australia who seized the initiative, heading to lunch on 1-130 after only 21 overs in which Jake Weatherald, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne took them apart.

The tone had been set for a day which the hosts won, meaning England will need to fight back again to avoid a 2-0 series deficit which would all but end of their hopes of reclaiming The Ashes and their winless run on Australian shores extending to 17 games.

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes told The West Australian England’s pace attack on display in the first innings in Perth reminded him of the awesome West Indies foursome he used to confront, but their displays since have been simply pedestrian.

Both Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson’s pace and intensity has dropped off precipitously as they have been forced to return for second, third and fourth spells.

Their third banana Brydon Carse impressed in the first Test but was all over the shop at the Gabba until jagging some late wickets amid strange Australian shot selection.

After going for all-out pace in Perth, England’s selectors opted to replace injured speedster Mark Wood with off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks but he does not look to be trusted by Stokes, leaving their attack without much variety.

And amid all England’s headaches, Australia’s batters were only too happy to make them pay.

England have spent the three years they have been under the stewardship of captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum preparing for this series and have brought an attack which has the attributes to be suited to Australian conditions.

But they were insistent their limited preparations after arriving here which included only one three-day warm-up game against their own reserves would prove sufficient — and the early returns have shown they were anything but.