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Let's make one thing very clear - England's minds were not on the game against Victoria at the MCG.

If being forced to play in such a meaningless fixture was irksome enough for the players, then for the watching members of the press it was simply tortuous. Such was the farcical nature of the game that Andrew Strauss managed to take a wicket with a rather unique brand of bowling, while part-time trundler Eoin Morgan was smashed for 22 off a single over.

Perhaps the fact that there was more of a buzz surrounding tomorrow's big match in Perth between the Australian journalists and their English counterparts shows that the game in Melbourne was unimportant in the extreme.

All eyes are on Perth and on the WACA in particular, with Australia needing to avoid defeat to keep the series alive going into the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

With Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus back in the squad, Australia are hoping to take advantage of the infamous afternoon breeze and the green tinge on the surface of strip five. And according to WACA groundsman, Cameron Sutherland, both sets of bowlers can expect pace and bounce, although nowhere near the levels that were present in those fabulous pitches of the 1980s.

"We're going to aim for a fair bit of grass on top this year," said Sutherland.

"Certainly we want a result and we're confident we'll have a pitch that will produce a result.

"We always aims for pace and bounce. Each year we've got better and better with it, and that's why we dug the pitch block up and started again with it.

"It was its first first class game last year and it played pretty well, so we envisage it playing similar.

"I think the signs are that last year and this year we're certainly getting close where we want to be."

For Australia, who need all the help they can get, a change may be needed in the tactics department with captain Ricky Ponting thought to be considering a different approach.

Ponting has not sent the opposition in since losing at Edgbaston in 2005, having chosen to bat on the past 30 occasions he has won the toss. Yet, with the pressure mounting over his role in the side, Ponting will also remember how South Africa embarked on the second highest successful run chase in Test history of 414-4 to win in Perth two years ago.

At least Ponting can console himself with the fact that England will be without Stuart Broad, who has been ruled out of the series with an abdominal injury.

Chris Tremlett, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shazhad all failed their MCG audition after failing to impress on a lifeless pitch against some determined Victorian batting.

But expect Tremlett to get the nod at the WACA with his ability to generate plenty of bounce and height lgiving him the advantage over his rivals.The 6'8 giant has not played a Test match since facing India in 2007 where he took 13 wickets in three matches at an average of 29.69.

Impressive at Hobart against Australia A, Tremlett claimed seven victims to put himself in pole position to be first reserve in the case of injury. And the Surrey man insists he is ready to make the most of his opportunity when England go in search of the victory which would retain the Ashes.

"When you come to Australia, you hope your attributes will play a part on these wickets," said Tremlett.

"Obviously, being 6ft 8in myself and the others being very tall as well, we can intimidate these guys and get in their faces a bit.

"Getting some overs and wickets under my belt has given me lots of confidence and if that opportunity does come along, then I'll be ready.

"I've worked hard in the nets and it's nice to get some miles in the legs and some match overs."

England are currently 2.78 to win the match and seeing as they're the ones carrying all the momentum, have far more in-form players and we're likely to get a result on this wicket, they have to get the nod to go 2-0 up.


By James Masters

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