'Need to adapt to conditions' - Clarke

Michael Clarke has admitted that Australia will have to adapt quickly if the pitches produced for the Investec Ashes series are similar in character to that in Cardiff, where his side was heavily beaten as England took a 1-0 lead. Clarke was hopeful of seeing a more lively surface at Lord's, just as he hoped to have a fit Mitchell Starc to call on in the second Test.

On a slow, dry Cardiff pitch, Australia were bundled out twice in 154.2 overs, after England had won the toss and posted 430. England's attack showed the discipline and patience required as they completed victory inside four days. Clarke said his team needed to improve if they were to win a first Ashes series in England since 2001.

"That's part of playing international cricket, you got to have success away from home as well and a big part of that is adapting to conditions," Clarke told Sky Sports. "Let's wait and see what the wicket's like at Lord's, I look forward to hopefully seeing a little bit more grass, but if we get similar conditions we've got to play better than we did here.

"We know what's expected of us as individual players, we know the conditions, all the guys have been able to see that now. I think the guys have prepared really well, we just haven't played our best cricket against a good opposition. If you don't play your best you lose."

Starc was Australia's most successful bowler, although he was intermittently erratic in taking 7 for 174, but he visibly struggled with an ankle injury during the second innings. He was able to bat on the final day, lasting almost an hour during a 72-run stand with Mitchell Johnson, and Clarke was positive about his chances of appearing at Lord's, with the second Test starting on Thursday. His loss, after the sudden retirement of Ryan Harris, would be another blow.

"He walked out and batted, which was a positive, he was still able to bowl and took a couple of wickets in the second innings, so hopefully he'll be fit and available for the second Test," Clarke said. "The real positive for us was that he was able to bowl and get through it."

Despite having had England 43 for 3 on the first morning, Australia let the advantage slip - chiefly through Joe Root, who was dropped by Brad Haddin on nought, scoring a century. Australia then slipped from 180 for 2 to 308 all out, as a succession of batsmen got in and got out, conceding a 122-run deficit that they never recovered from. Clarke did not wish to dwell on specific moments, concluding instead that England had been the better team.

"To cut a long story short I think we were outplayed in all three facets of the game. I think England's batting in the first innings, their bowling throughout the whole game and their catching was exceptional. We've got some work to do before the second Test.

"That's the difference, when you're playing against a very good team, when you get in you've got to cash in. If you get opportunities as a bowling and fielding unit, you've got to hang on to those chances."