Strauss remaining cautious

England remain wary of their Ashes opponents in the second Test, even though Australia appear to have blinked first by dropping Mitchell Johnson.

Andrew Strauss, who had some minor 'firefighting' to do after Kevin Pietersen's latest foray on Twitter, warns England must not start to under-estimate the opposition just because Australia have made a key personnel change after one match.

The England captain said: "I think we've got to be just slightly wary of the guys they've got in their squad. They're good performers, who've had a lot of success in Test cricket. We've got to be good enough to contend with them."

Johnson's figures of none for 170 in the high-scoring stalemate at the Gabba convinced Australia's selectors he needs a break, and his place seems set to be taken by fellow left-arm pace bowler Doug Bollinger.

Strauss' settled team may conceivably show a change itself, although it is a long shot that Ajmal Shahzad could replace Steven Finn - who took six first-innings wickets in Brisbane.

Should that happen, it will be no knee-jerk reaction to a poor performance - the way some are portraying Australia's decision.

Strauss said: "My experience, in playing international cricket, is that lack of stability is not a good thing - when you're not sure what your best XI is. That means people are generally a bit concerned about their place in the side. In that sense, that's a good thing for us."

Strauss again found himself questioned on the subject of Twitter - this time after Pietersen voiced his frustration at outdoor net practice being rained off, blaming groundsman Damian Hough for not covering the pitches quickly enough.

Asked whether Pietersen crossed the line with his latest apparent faux pas, Strauss said: "No, he didn't. But obviously there are degrees of everything, and we don't want anything that distracts our attention from what's important - which is getting on the cricket pitch and performing.

"I don't think he realised when he put it on there. I think he was just frustrated. But the groundsman and authorities at Adelaide have looked after us exceptionally well. We've got no qualms with them whatsoever."