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Nasser Hussain: 'England batting display is key'

Nasser Hussain says that England must score big in the first innings of the second Test if they are to peg back Australia in The Ashes.

Former captain Nasser Hussain has told England that their performance with the bat will be vital during the second Test of The Ashes in Adelaide on Thursday.

The Three Lions were easily beaten by 381 runs at The Gabba in their Brisbane loss to Australia, and Hussain feels that England must adapt to the conditions at The Oval in their next outing.

"It's usually very, very hot and very, very flat and a great place to bat but come day four/day five the pitch can change very quickly," Hussein told Sky Sports News. "For the first three days it's one of the flattest pitches in world cricket.

"The batting aspect is so important for England in this Test. As a player, commentator, whatever I never went into a Test thinking we can't lose it, the importance really is the batting.

"England have players who have played well here in the past, the likes of Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen have a fantastic record at this ground. England must rack up a big first-innings score to keep Australia out in the field. They have not batted well as a unit for some time now so this is a great opportunity to get their heads down and bat well."

England won the Test on their last visit to the Adelaide Oval three years ago.

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Matt Cotton
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Jonathan Trott of England looks on during day one of the 3rd Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Old Trafford Cricket Ground on August 1, 2013
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