'We'll be ready for the Gabba' - Stoneman

Mark Stoneman admitted life was likely to get "a hell of a lot" tougher next week after registering his first century in an England shirt.

Stoneman, who has passed 50 in every innings of the tour, dominated an inexperienced Cricket Australia attack on an easy-paced deck in recording England's first hundred since they arrived. With Alastair Cook he posted an opening stand of 172 and, with Joe Root and Dawid Malan also cruising to untroubled centuries, England enjoyed something approaching a perfect day.

But there is, Stoneman insists, no chance England will be lulled into a false sense of confidence. They know that the opposition - and the pitch - in Brisbane next week (where the Ashes begin on November 23) will be vastly more demanding and they are preparing for it accordingly.

To that end, each of the England batsman is facing a barrage of short balls in the nets. Mark Rampakash, the batting coach, is hurling yellow balls - the sort used for indoor cricket in Australia - with a sidearm from around 18 yards to replicate (or even exaggerate) the level of ferocity they envisage.

"It's been well documented and everyone is critical of the opposition we've faced in the warm-up games," Stoneman said. "We're going to be tested a hell of a lot more next week, that's for sure. There's no doubts about that and everyone's aware of it.

"Obviously there's going to be more pace and bounce from the attack and the pitch in Brisbane. But we're playing here against a different team so all you can do is go through the processes that stand you in good stead.

"It's going to have to be enough. We can't change the preparation we've been given. That's where self-awareness and knowing where you are within your own game is key. We're being tested as much as we can by Ramps [Ramprakash] and his yellow balls, so from the opportunities we've had, we're happy with where we are." Moeen Ali, meanwhile, is using a tray on the pitch to help exaggerate the bounce he anticipates in the series. He took a blow on the helmet during training on Thursday but was unscathed.

"It's up to the individual to take that practice a bit further knowing that what we face in these games isn't going to be the level we get next week," Stoneman continued. "Ramps is fast with the sidearm. He throws from a lot closer [than a bowler would deliver] because we all know we're going to be facing a lot of pace.

"We've put in the work we can against the opposition and worked hard in the nets. We'll be ready for the Gabba."