Trott keen to pick up where he left off

ENGLAND shut out Australia’s bowlers for more than 10 hours in Brisbane, but are under orders to close the door much earlier in Adelaide.

It was only after conceding a first-innings deficit of 221 that England’s top three batsmen began, and completed, a much-needed fightback — piling up a monumental 517 for one declared.

Jonathan Trott was the third man to reach three figures as England saved the first Ashes Test so emphatically, and will therefore start again at the Adelaide Oval with confidence high that they can go 1-0 up with three to play.

With two Ashes centuries to his name after as many Tests — he famously marked his debut with a second-innings 119 in a series-clinching victory at The Oval last year — England’s South African-born number three appears to have the knack of making big runs against Australia.

“We don’t want to give them a sniff,” he said of the Australia attack.

“That’s our job, to get their bowlers into their third and fourth spells and get ourselves big scores.”

England, who could muster only 260 after winning the toss at the Gabba last Thursday, have endured top-order wobbles at their first attempt in each match of their tour down under so far.

It was a similar story last week, when their last specialist batsman Ian Belllimited the damage with 76 from number six. “The one thing we look at in Brisbane is the first innings,” added Trott.

“We didn’t get as many as we’d have liked.

“If we’d got a big score we’d have put pressure on them. As a batting unit, first-innings runs in Australia are very important.

“We hope we can get them in this game.”

Australia inevitably face several unwelcome matters arising from their disappointing last two days in Brisbane.

Top of their agenda will be the form of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who had a miserable Test at what used to be his home ground — finishing with match figures of none for 170.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke, who also looked out of sorts in making a tortured nine runs from 50 balls in his only innings at the Gabba, is confident Johnson can bounce back.

“Mitch is fine,” he said.

“All of us face criticism throughout our career sometimes more often than not, especially when you’re not scoring as many runs or taking as many wickets as you’d like. But he’s faced it before; I’m sure he’ll face it again.

“He’s looking forward to this opportunity in this Test match, and if he gets his chance I’m sure he’ll grab it with both hands.”

Australia do have options if they wish to make a change to their attack, with Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger added to the squad after the Brisbane Test.