Andrew Strauss has warned that Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott's final-day heroics don't mean England can rest on their laurels going into the second Ashes clash.
The tourists travel to Adelaide today ahead of Friday's second Test having made Australia toil for two days at the Gabba, with Strauss, Cook and Trott all scoring centuries to snatch a draw from what had seemed like, after day three, certain defeat.
It was the first time since 1924 that England's top three had each reached their tons in the same innings. And after Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin had helped the hosts eclipse England's opening day efforts of 260 all out, they have left Ricky Ponting with plenty of questions to answer in the next couple of days.
Cook's unbeaten 235 - his first double-hundred in first-class or Test cricket - and Trott's 135 not out were majestic marks of defiance from a side that refused to roll over.
But Strauss, while optimistic about the rest of the series, has been quick to bring his titan troops back down to earth.
"Everyone talks about how important the first Test is against Australia in Brisbane, so to get through that unscathed from the position we were in is a great effort," he said. "We've got a lot of belief we can go on and win the series from here.
"We'll have a spring in our step going to Adelaide - but we have to transfer that to the pitch.
"It's all very well strutting about in the hotel lobby feeling good about yourself. "You need to make sure that turns into
runs and wickets."
The England skipper had led his side's fightback with a stubborn 110 on the fourth day, he and Cook arriving at the crease needing to eat into the tourists' 221-run, first-innings deficit.
However, Strauss insisted they'll take just as much from the opening day.
"The first day of an Ashes series is hard work mentally, and we did well to come back from losing a wicket in the first over," he said.
"Ian Bell played exceptionally well; Cooky played well. But Peter Siddle knocked the stuffing out of us with his hat-trick.
"We did some very good things with the ball - some of our bowlers weren't rewarded for quite how well they bowled.
"We were in a pretty dire position after day three, so it speaks volumes."
It was another toothless effort from the Aussie attack after England finally declared their second innings on an unbelievable 517 for one, and although Ponting admitted after the game that he felt he had "exhausted every option" it hasn't stopped him from drafting pacemen Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris into the squad for the second Test.
The writing's on the wall for Mitchell Johnson in particular after he finished the match with none for 170, but the Baggy Green skipper declared that nobody in his bowling line-up is safe.
"500 for one is a pretty demeaning scorecard, isn't it?" Ponting said.
"No doubt that we've got a lot of improvement to do with our bowling group. None of our bowlers were at their best. We have to work out which is the best make-up to take 20 wickets.
"I don't think anyone's certain."
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