England concede early psychological advantage

In his interview after a long, hot day in the field, Ashley Giles said England need to come out fighting on day two of the first Test as Australia look set for a huge first-innings total.

But come out fighting is exactly what England should have done on day one.

It is vital to send out a statement of intent to the opposition in the opening session of an Ashes series.

This England did brilliantly at Lord's in 2005, with Steve Harmison bowling particularly aggressively as he struck Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the cheekbone.

There is no doubt England were unlucky to lose the toss and have to bowl first on what looks like a tremendous batting surface.

But their wayward bowling early on and, in some notable cases, hangdog expression suggested they were suffering a combination of nerves and gloomy resignation.

England's lack of preparation and reliance on bowlers who have played very little cricket through injury in the last 12 months was always open to criticism.

These weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed in those crucial first two hours of the day.

Aussie opener Justin Langer was determined to hit his way into form, an approach that might have been his downfall had England bowled with greater control.

As it was, Australia got off to a flyer. Now, as Giles says, begins the task of reining them in.