"We're not there just to do part-time work, if you like, we've got to make hundreds."
Thursday 30 November 2017 08:35, UK
In his latest Ashes Diary, Mark Stoneman reflects on England’s loss in Brisbane, how they can fight back in Adelaide and reveals the worst footballer in the squad...
We were obviously disappointed to lose the first Test in Brisbane. We were pretty much neck and neck for the first three days and had ourselves in some good positions that we just failed to fully take advantage of - had we been able to take them we would have really put Australia on the back foot.
There is no hiding from the fact that our skill set is control and taking advantage of sideways movement, whereas they have more pace in their attack, which no doubt helped them finish off our lower order better than we were able to do to them.
The couple of partnerships that Steve Smith managed to have with his lower order were the difference in the game really.
We were able to execute some good plans against their batsmen and that gives us a lot of confidence going forward, especially if we find some assistance with the pink ball under lights in Adelaide which has been important in previous fixtures over here.
The result wasn't what we wanted but walking out to open the batting on the first morning of an Ashes Test at the Gabba was incredible, I absolutely loved it.
It was almost surreal at times, being out there in the middle with thousands of people chanting and really doing their best to get behind the Aussie bowlers while we were out there trying to combat them. I just really enjoyed it. I just tried to take as much of it in as possible.
Rather than being a distraction, it was part of the whole experience. Obviously it would have been nice to go on and make a bigger contribution. When we talk about those key moments, I felt getting out 10 minutes before tea was a key point in the game.
I think if me and Vincey had stayed together until tea and then re-established afterwards we would have gone into day two in a much better position.
Not turning fifties into hundreds is something we're very aware of. We know that is what our job is, we're not there just to do part-time work, if you like, we've got to make hundreds.
The difference that Steve Smith's innings, 141 not out, made shows that if one of us had been able to go on and make a three-figure score, with some other partnerships around, then we would have been in such a strong position. As it was we only made fifties and that cost us.
The Aussie bowlers are all top operators when they get on a roll but I think, in terms of trajectory and pace, Pat Cummins was the quickest.
They're a world class outfit but, at the same time, we know we can put miles in their legs, we got them to around 25 overs each and if we manage to get through those key moments either side of breaks and develop partnerships then there are runs to be made there for us, as a team.
I'm expecting pretty similar from their bowlers in the second Test, they'll search for movement with the new ball then as things get a little bit flatter they'll look to go upstairs again and look to make things as uncomfortable as possible.
That is one of the key things of playing out here, if you're not getting any sideways assistance then you've got to have different options to force mistakes from the batsmen. That is something we've worked on with our plans to the Aussie batsmen, with the fields that we set, and one of their main go-to options is to send a few up around the chest and shoulders.
The story about Jonny Bairstow, Cameron Bancroft and the now infamous 'headbutt' greeting came out on the evening of day four and, obviously, it wasn't ideal.
It was a lot made out of nothing really but fair play to the Australians, every Ashes series has an element of propaganda that goes with it and they sensed an opportunity to put one of our players under pressure as an individual, using the media to do it.
It's something that they've done to good effect. But, like I say, it was something that was made much more of than the incident actually was. I'd imagine they'll be seeking every avenue that they can to put individuals under pressure when they're out in the middle.
We've arrived in Adelaide now and had a pretty quiet first day, it wasn't a designated training day so we were able just to go to the gym and then check out a few of the coffee shops which was pretty nice, a quite a relaxing day before getting back to work tomorrow.
Since we've arrived here, Ben Stokes has landed in New Zealand to see his family and continue his training. I think it is without question what he is capable of as a player.
He is a game changer with bat, ball and in the field and he is a fantastic guy to have around the group. He is full of energy and life, if he were to be able to be included in our squad before the end of the series then he'd be a welcome bonus.
The pre-game football is as competitive as ever and while we haven't had an update from Jimmy on who is the current holder of the Ballon Ashes, it has been clear who the worst player on the trip is - and that is Mason Crane.
He actually substituted himself on the last day at the Gabba! He was playing that badly that he took himself off - I've never seen that before. He's struggling a little bit but he's young, he's got time to come again with his football!
The next match should be a fantastic spectacle, the first day-night Ashes Test. It is a fantastic ground here at Adelaide, we really enjoyed it when we were down here for the warm-up game and it's got a lovely feel to it.
For a big stadium, it still feels like a cricket ground and it should be a fantastic game. Hopefully, if we get a bit more sideways movement, with the skill set our bowlers have. It'll be great if we can take 20 wickets and really put the Aussies under pressure.
