It's not often you see so many batsmen in the top order out in the 30s in the very same innings, but the Australians had all four from Steve Smith at No.3 to Shane Watson at No.6 exit for between 31 and 38 in their first dig in Cardiff. Many batsmen get more annoyed about getting out for 30-odd than scoring a duck because they've managed to negotiate their way through the obstacle course that is often the early stages of an innings, only to blow it. In the first Test, it wasn't necessarily a series of unplayable deliveries that brought them down, with Smith, Michael Clarke and Adam Voges all coming unstuck while going on the attack. They're unlikely to retreat from that mentality at Lord's, particularly against spinner Moeen Ali, but they must adapt better to the conditions and the match situation. Australia could really use one or two of that top and middle order to stroll through the Long Room and go on with a start.

BUILD PRESSURE WITH THE BALL

The Australians look to be going with an all-out attacking bowling line-up centred around the Mitchells - Johnson and Starc - and Josh Hazlewood. Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that wicket-taking trio, plus Nathan Lyon, would have bowled England out for no more than 200 in their first innings in Cardiff had Joe Root not been put down on nought. Australia will go into the second Test with a similar confidence that if they're on their game they knock over England without too much fuss. The problem with that is if it doesn't work they need to be able to contain their free-scoring opponents better than they did in Cardiff, where they too often strayed in their line and length. Who takes on the role of the so-called control bowler in the absence of Shane Watson is the question. The other issue is that the Lord's slope does not make it the most straightforward venue to bowl at and without Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, Australia's bowlers will have to overcome their inexperience at the home of cricket to succeed.

LEAD FROM THE FRONT

The English press, delirious at the thought that Australia might imitate their own pitiful touring side of two summers ago here, suggested Michael Clarke looked rattled as the tourists drifted to a comprehensive defeat in the first Test. Whether that was the case or not, what Australia need from their captain is an urgent injection of runs. He looks alarmingly out of form and the numbers are not pretty. Following his consecutive hundreds against England in Brisbane and Adelaide in the 2013-14 summer, Clarke's highest score in nine subsequent Ashes innings is the 38 he made in Cardiff. And in his past 24 Test innings he has only passed 50 twice - admittedly doing so in fairly emphatic fashion with that brave, match-winning hundred in Cape Town last year and later an emotional ton in Adelaide.

REGAIN THEIR SWAGGER

Australia rolled into town a few weeks ago with a spring in their step that indicated they believed without question they would have England's number over the two months that followed. All of a sudden, and not helped by a couple of things they could do nothing about - Ryan Harris's knee flaring up, and the withdrawal of Brad Haddin at Lord's - there doesn't seem to be the same aura of impregnability beaming off this Australian squad. David Warner's remarks on Sydney radio in the week were a case in point, admitting that the challenging English conditions - from movement off the seam, clouds in the sky to the swinging Dukes ball - meant that a batsman never really felt "in". Warner was simply being honest ahead of his Lord's debut but the Australians need to remind themselves just why they were so confident only a week or so ago. The likes of Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke and those in the bowling attack are match winners and must put a dent in England's momentum.

HANDLE THE OCCASION

You can argue Australia did not do this in Cardiff. A football coach might have said they "did not turn up". There is barely a bigger stage than an Ashes Test at Lord's and while Michael Clarke is playing in his fourth there are others not so experienced. "I love the silence of Lord's when you are playing," Clarke said. "You have times where it makes me feel like I am playing club cricket. You look around the ground and you can see everybody, but when you are actually batting you are so focused, and it doesn't make sense, but you can 'hear' the silence. You can actually hear and notice how quiet it is and there are not too many places around the world where you get that."