Catch everything, pile on the runs and keep Dad’s Army in the field all day...

HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THE SLOPE?

IT’S amazing how quickly things can turn around. Only a couple of weeks ago, everyone was praising the variety and skill of Australia’s attack. Yet in Cardiff it was England’s bowling line-up that looked better balanced.

That win was only a start, of course, but there are echoes here of the way England began to feel the strain in Australia 18 months ago.

This time it’s Australia who seem to be having the problems — and it’s their batsmen who are coming under scrutiny.

Credit has to go to Alastair Cook, who has taken plenty of flak when things have gone badly, and now deserves praise for the way England have played this summer.

Yes, coach Trevor Bayliss has obviously had a huge impact behind the scenes: they won’t be rushing around for video footage of Peter Nevill, for example, because Bayliss has worked with him at New South Wales. But I’d like to see Cook get some praise, too.

The only word of caution is that Australia never really came at England in Cardiff,diff, except for a few shots in the second innings fromm David Warner.

If and when Australia get their act together, England must stick to their excellent plans.

Here are six things England have to do well again at Lord’s to o keep their foot on thehe Aussies’ throat.

KEEP THE FEELGOOD FACTOR GOING

THE Cardiff crowd were inspired by England’s performance in the first Test and the atmosphere there was magnificent. The doom and gloom around English cricket, which still lingered when the team turned up at Lord’s earlier this summer to take on New Zealand, has gone. Now, whether England bat or bowl first today, they have to sustain that momentum and keep all the pressure on Australia.

IT’S TIME FOR THE TOP ORDER TO STAND UP

ENGLAND cannot keep losing three early wickets and expect to carry on winning, because sooner or later a good side will bulldoze through their middle order. The top four must bat a lot better because it cannot be left to Joe Root to come to the rescue every time.

DON’T LET MITCHELL JOHNSON DOMINATE

AUSTRALIA’S spearhead bowled OK at Cardiff without much reward and, with a bit more pace and movement expected at Lord’s, it would be very foolish to write him off just yet. Johnson was the biggest factor in Australia winning the last series 5-0 and he will inspire his side and lift a nation if he can start running through England’s batsmen again.

ATTACK NATHAN LYON

ENGLAND must keep targeting the Australia spinner but each batsman has to do it his own way. I liked the intent shown against Lyon in Cardiff, but he bowled well and it wasn’t easy for England to get after him. Cook came down the wicket to Lyon from the start and that may haveh sent a message butb I would rather see theth captain playing his now shots against spin rather than somebody else’s.

CARRY ON CATCHING

THE fielding was brilliant at Cardiff — with only Root’s dropping of Chris Rogers on the last morning spoiling an exemplary collective performance. Now it is imperative that England’s slip cordon do not repeat the mistakes made against New Zealand on a Lord’s ground which is not always easy for catching.

MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE DAD’S ARMY

ENGLAND have to maintain the focus on Australia’s age and ramp up the pressure on the old ’uns by keeping them in the field for as long as possible. Cook can do that with the body language, energy and inventiveness he showed in Cardiff. It was an absolute role reversal, with Australia skipper Michael Clarke looking a quiet, peripheral, reactive figure.