'Perfect time to twist the knife'

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IT'S payback time at the Gabba this weekend.

A Test victory should await rampaging Australia but the home side must try to put a fistful of cherries on top of the pie. This is simply act one of a five-act play.

The next few days are a rare and precious chance for Australia to set themselves up for the summer by trying to break England's four-man attack in the field, getting a previously ropey top order into form and keeping England's key batting weapons pondering where their next run is coming from.

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Winning is the prime goal but keeping as many opposition players as possible out of form is a key subplot because England, fighters that they are, will be back.

Just losing a Test would be a numbing jolt for England given they have been unbeaten for 13 in a row and have not lost in a year. They are not used to getting over losses.

The fascinating thing about playing two Ashes series side-by-side is that there are recurring themes that become recurring nightmares.

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The series is just two days old yet already a host of players have blood dripping from reopened wounds.

Alastair Cook had a stunning series against Australia three years ago but in his two others series, including the recent one in England, he was firmly kept in Australia's pocket with repeated nicks outside off stump.

Ryan Harris found Cook's edge yesterday, so a skeleton is already rattling in his closet.

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Australia have been talking for a month about Jonathan Trott's struggles with the short ball and there they were again.

Cook and Trott, who destroyed Australia here three years ago, now look vulnerable each time they take the crease.

These are huge victories.

CHANGE OF PLAN

WE know England can protect a lead, scrap like junkyard dogs and sandpaper teams to death. But can they chase?

The prospect of Australia winning this Test and taking the lead against England for the first time in four Ashes series throws down a fascinating challenge for English captain Cook, whose naturally defensive mindset is more suited to protecting a lead rather than chasing one.

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THE FORTRESS

IF there was a snapshot of the reason why the Gabba is the greatest fortress in world cricket it was the madhouse English collapse between lunch and tea yesterday.

The biggest single factor behind Australia's 24 years of domination is the bounce of the wicket.

Batsmen going to India might be able to condition themselves for the turning ball and continued exposure to the swinging ball in the nets can enhance a batsman's skill level to that challenge.

Australia's Brad Haddin and captain Michael Clarke (L) react for a successful caught appeal. Source: AFP

But the Gabba continually proves that no amount of practice against ramped-up bowling machines or net bowlers can fully prepare a player for deliveries pounding into their ribs at 145km/h.

England may struggle to train for the Australian pace assault because barely a ball they have bowled in this match has pushed the speedometer past 140km/h.

The next time some AFL voice tries to convince the Gabba to have a drop-in wicket cricket officials should pull out a time capsule containing footage of yesterday's dismissals.

It was epic Test cricket.

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