The Ashes: Darren Lehmann plans new strategy for Adelaide Test

Coach Darren Lehmann has tempered Australia's Ashes euphoria, saying the second Adelaide Test against England next week will be vastly different to the Brisbane playing conditions. England suffered one of their heaviest-ever Ashes Test defeats on Sunday when Australia hammered them by 381 runs at the Gabba with a day to spare to go one-up in the series.

 

The tourists collapsed under the blistering pace of Mitchell Johnson and were all out for 179 late on the fourth day after they were skittled out for 136 in the first innings. But Lehmann, who played a big part in Australia's opening Test ambush with his individual plans for the English players, is expecting a far different match next up against the stung tourists.

Lehmann conceded that Johnson's momentum after taking nine match scalps in Brisbane could be stifled by the slower, batter-friendly conditions on the Adelaide drop-in wicket and said Australia were a long way from a finished product.

"We're miles off. We want to keep improving," he told reporters after the Gabba win.

"We played well. The next Test is a different kettle of fish. We have some good plans, we like what we are doing but we start from scratch in Adelaide.

"We may have to prepare a different way.

"(Johnson's momentum) depends what we get in Adelaide. We don't know. He bowled beautifully in Brisbane. He was aggressive, he had bounce had confidence."

Johnson also admitted after his man-of-the-match performance that "it could be a very different wicket in Adelaide".

Lehmann said he supported his team playing aggressive cricket against the Ashes holders after the first Test was marred by constant sledging.

"I like them playing hard cricket. I like our boys being aggressive without crossing the line," he said. "It will always be hard-fought between Australia and England.

"It certainly was in the last Ashes series in England and has been over the years.

"The ICC (International Cricket Council) deals with everything else and if they cross the line they will deal with it."

Australia have already named an unchanged 12 for Adelaide, starting on December 5, although Lehmann said he had left the way open to add extra players if required.

"We said we would pick the best side possible as long as everyone is 100 percent fit," he said.

"So if Ryan Harris is 100 percent fit he'll play.

"Every Test is important at the moment, obviously a good result at the Gabba but we'll concentrate on Adelaide," he added.

"You pick the side that's going to win the Test match."

England have a two-day tour game against the Chairman's XI starting in Alice Springs on Friday where pace bowler Tim Bresnan may get his first chance to bowl on tour after a stress injury of his back.