Broad hails adaptability on 'sub-continent pitch'

England's bowling attack outsmarted Australia at every move during the first Investec Test in Cardiff and while their pre-series planning played a part - not least the removal of Shane Watson lbw twice - Stuart Broad has stressed that it was an ability to change tack on a surface reminiscent of the sub-continent that was most important in forcing victory.

Broad was the most successful of England's quicks across the two innings with five scalps as they were rewarded for their adaptability and learning from the errors of Australia on the opening day on a slow wicket.

England's five-pronged unit worked in perfect harmony: exacting new-ball spells - even though the wicket column did not always reflect it - reverse swing once the initial shine had gone, the sharp bursts from Mark Wood which helped take a sluggish pitch out of the equation and the success of Moeen Ali, who benefitted from Australia's aggressive, bordering on reckless, mindset towards spin bowling.

Discussions at England's training camp in Spain had continued during the lead-in to Cardiff last week. Nobody had expected the Cardiff surface to be quick, but as soon as they saw the new-ball scuttle to the keeper from the 90mph offerings of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson it became apparent that some hasty rethinking was required.

Even though the surface did not turn out to be as moribund as the early signs suggested, what followed was the most complete bowling performance - especially considering the context of the match - since England won in Australia on the 2010-11 tour.

Broad said it was a six-over spell by James Anderson on the second afternoon which went for just three runs - and came in the period where Michael Clarke drilled a return catch to Moeen - that reinforced the best method for the surface.

"You have to adapt, a lot of our plans went out of the window when we saw the pace of the wicket because there's no point constantly trying to get someone's edge when it isn't going to carry," Broad said. "We had to think on our feet. I didn't want to waste a bouncer. We brought the stumps into play, it was like the sub-continent.

"The Aussies gave us width. We had the advantage of watching them bowl on it first so we could adjust our plans. It was a no-width policy. It started when Jimmy bowled five maidens out of six, that gave us a real belief that there was nowhere for the batsmen to go."

Broad won an early round of the much-hyped duel with Steven Smith when he found an edge that did carry to slip in the second innings, while he also continued his impressive record against Clarke when the Australia captain drove to point in the second innings.

It was the tenth time Broad had removed Clarke, making him his most prolific victim in Test cricket ahead of Ross Taylor.

"You always lift yourself when the opposition captain comes in," Broad said. "The best time to bowl to a new batter is the first 20 balls and Cooky throws me the ball when he comes in. I don't think there's anything particular between me and him, I think it's just I managed to get him. I don't feel I have anything over him."

Third on Broad's list of batsmen most dismissed is Watson. Broad pinned him lbw in his first over of the third day to begin a period where England took a firm hold on the match by running through Australia's lower order. Broad admitted the decision "was a bit harsh" and went as far as to say he didn't have "any doubts" that Watson would be lining up at Lord's, although that could just as likely have been some mind games involving someone England would like to see retain their place.

Broad certainly had no qualms going into some detail about England's methods to Watson, although they are clearly no secret - probably even to the man himself.

"As a group we bowl well at him - even though his average is higher against us. We are quite clear we wanted to starve him of runs. A lot of teams go straight from the start but we don't, we go fourth, fifth stump and then fire in a quick one straight at the stumps. I don't feel bad saying that because he's probably aware. I'm sure he'll play at Lord's, I don't have any doubts."

Broad was also well aware that England are likely to have to adjust their plans again for the second Test - "you'll certainly see three slips and a gully" - but said that the fuller length he adopted in Cardiff will remain key.

"I've been working between series on bowling the fuller length but snapping into it. As a tall bowler you can sometimes get a bit floaty." he said. "Once that rhythm clicked I got movement on the ball and caused trouble. Hopefully I can apply that pressure at Lord's because there is a lot of scope for bowling full here."

The outcome of the first Test has put significant pressure on Clarke and Darren Lehmann with doubts continuing to linger over Starc's fitness - despite some positive bulletins from within the Australian camp - allied to the debate over Watson's position and Brad Haddin's form, although the latter is expected to survive.

Broad hopes to be facing Starc - "you want to play against the best" - but was delighted in the way the complete nature of England's opening win had already started to raise questions about Australia.

"You never want to see a fellow professional being injured but there are certainly questions being asked about their team," he said. "A month ago you would have flipped that around - there were questions about our team and not so much about Australia.

"That is credit to how the players have played - it's nice to get that win when everyone contributes. Everyone can walk away from that game feeling like they have contributed. First Tests of a series - especially Ashes series - are nervy affairs so no one wants to walk away with no wickets runs, feeling like you are trying to find your feet in the series."

He was, however, very aware that England have struggled to back-up recent victories in the next match. In West Indies they followed the win in Grenada with the Barbados defeat that ended Peter Moores' reign as coach, then earlier this season they secured a memorable Lord's win against New Zealand only to be turned over at Headingley.

"We've got a huge amount of motivation to put those results right," Broad said. "We're also well aware we had a bit of the rub of the green in the last Test - we won the toss, Rooty got dropped and a few decisions went our way. That happens in cricket and it might not be the same this week so we're going to have to work hard to get a win, but there have been a lot results here, so I'd expect it to be 1-1 or 2-0 after this week."