Australia to continue short-pitched attack

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff will be under even more pressure from short-pitched bowling in the second Test starting at Adelaide on Friday, according to John Buchanan. Despite the fact that neither batsman fell to bouncers in the first Test at the Gabba, Buchanan said it was worth persisting with the tactic.

"We noticed that they have started to bat deeper in their crease so it is a tactic we really want to continue with," Buchanan told The Courier Mail. "I know they have been seen practising against the short ball so it is obviously on their minds. I am surprised England are batting Pietersen and Flintoff at No.5 and No.6, and not higher up the order.

"The question I would ask is whether they are here to win the series [or play for draws]. By selecting Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson in our squad, they are obviously aware that the short-pitched bowling tactic is in our minds - which it is." The move has support from one of the game's greats. Before the first Test, Steve Waugh advised Australia to bombard Flintoff with short stuff and prey on his ego.

Buchanan also said his counterpart Duncan Fletcher faced huge challenges over the coming week. "Fletcher got his mate Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles in the team ahead of Panesar and Chris Read in Brisbane, and there has obviously been a lot said and written about that from the likes of Rodney Marsh," Buchanan said.

"This is why this is such a huge Test because if England fails again those issues will become bigger and bigger. There are other issues for them to address such as Andrew Strauss and the pull shot. He uses the shot to make bowlers change their length and to get off strike but we dismissed him twice to the pull in Brisbane."