The Ashes: 'Wounded' Australia will bounce back, warns Strauss

Andrew Strauss has warned England that “wounded animal” Australia will stage an Ashes fightback this summer.

The pre-series favourites were stung by England’s 169-run win in the First Investec Test in Cardiff and were seeking to level the series quickly in the Second Test, which starts at Lord’s on Thursday.

Strauss claimed three Ashes victories in his career, two as captain, and is now England’s director of cricket. Despite their bright start to the summer, he expects the tide to turn at some stage over the next four Tests.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the summer, Strauss said: “Beware of the wounded animal. When Australia are on the back foot that is the time to be wary of them. They will come out all guns blazing, they will take the game to England, try to meet fire with fire.

“The will feel bitterly disappointed at having lost so convincingly in Cardiff and they will be determined to make amends for it. England’s challenge is to meet them in terms of intensity. Cardiff was a massive game in terms of confidence but it guarantees absolutely nothing.”

Not since 1999 have England gone 1-0 up in a home Test series only to lose it. The last time Australia prevailed despite defeat in the opening Test here was in 1997, when they went on to take the series 3-2.

Australia’s 5-0 whitewash in 2013-14 made this summer a daunting task but England started well in Cardiff and their last two Lord’s Ashes Tests have ended in victory.