1-0

Ok...could have been worse...not as much but it could have been...Time to move on and sort out what to do...here's a few tips:

1. Get on plane and go to Adelaide

2. Practise

3. Pick right team for this particular test

4. Develop positive mental attitude

5. Win toss

6. Win test

Not much of a formula I know but it's what needs to happen. There is no point in licking wounds or having a post mortem. However, that said, there is criticism aplenty and some of which needs addressing.

Firstly, Freddie's captaincy is obviously going to be called into question. I believe he has a good cricketing brain but like most captains it appears on occasions to affect his form. Solution? Let Strauss make the decisions on the field regarding bowling changes & tactics. We must free up Freddie to do what he is good at...which is scaring Aussies. He is a catalyst cricketer that can change matches and the Aussies fear him.

Secondly, Strauss has been found out. It is more likely to do with the size of the boundaries in Oz than poor shot selection but in both innings they set him up and got him out. This is intelligent cricket from RP. Strauss can overcome this either by dropping the shot completely or practising until he gets it right. Batsmen can change fielding positions too. They simply have to find the gaps and score there. Then RP will change the field to stop the flow of runs. Strauss can avoid the shot by ducking or moving across his stumps particularly when Clarke is bowling. Strauss can also attack in a more positive fashion. Not with flamboyant strokes but with a straight bat down the ground. Nothing hurts a bowler more.

Thirdly, we need to pick a side not to bolster the batting. The 2nd innings showed we have a perfectly decent middle order. We need a team that will attack the Aussies batting line up. 2 spinners are essential. But Giles doesn't have to be one of them. In my mind KP turns the ball much better and the Aussies haven't seen enough of him yet. Giles is a target because of both his injuries and Flintoff's choice to pick him ahead of Monty. When they attack Giles they attack Freddie. Bring in Mahmood. He has the most natural action of the whole squad and will add another unknown to the attack as will Monty.

Whilst I am disappointed that we lost, I am not too worried about our batting. To win a test match you need to take 20 wickets. At the Gabba we only took 10.