Steven Smith is anticipating England to attempt some "different stuff" towards him through the Ashes however is assured his problem-solving abilities will stand him in good stead.

Smith comes into the sequence on the again of the 121 he made towards India within the World Test Championship remaining, the place he regarded in glorious contact, though he did fall to a hack towards Ravindra Jadeja within the second innings.

England's pre-match discuss has ranged from a suggestion by James Anderson that they will not over-plan for Smith this time, having beforehand fallen into that lure, to expectations that Ben Stokes will undergo his full vary of tips towards him.

"Think we've seen the last few months that they do some funky things and they are going to have to try some different things at certain times," Smith mentioned. "For me, [I] think one of my big strengths is being able to adapt on the go and understand what they are trying to do and sort of solve the problem out in the middle. I'll just focus on my game and try and counter each thing they come at me with. But we are expecting some different stuff, that's for sure."

'[I] suppose one in all my large strengths is with the ability to adapt on the go' - Smith•ICC/Getty Images

Moeen Ali would seem a transparent goal for the Australians - one thing Moeen has already spoken about anticipating - though Smith urged a extra measured method than will doubtless be seen from England's batters.

"Leachy's [Jack Leach] not here so they don't have a left-arm spinner, bit different the ball spinning in," he mentioned. "I'm sure facing Mo there'll be times where we are a bit more aggressive and times where we bring it back.

"I will not actually change an excessive amount of, it is about understanding conditions, figuring out after I can press a bit extra and put a bit extra stress on and figuring out after I want to soak up stress and rein it again in a bit. It's one thing I've executed for 10 years and I do not see any want to vary it."

That successful period coincided with a change in technique where he was standing more side-on and much stiller at the crease, but early in this tour he has reverted to the back-and-across movement that was a feature of the 2019 campaign - the latest example of the skill and adaptability that makes him a great. But was that tour four years ago his pinnacle?

"Hope I'm higher, I try day-after-day to be higher," he said. "But undecided. Was clearly an excellent sequence for me final time right here and I'd love to copy one thing related and assist us carry the urn on the finish. But we'll wait and see."