England go into the second Test against Australia on the back of a crushing defeat at The Gabba, but they should not be too downhearted.

Joe Root’s men move to Adelaide for the inaugural day-night Ashes Test which starts in the early hours of Saturday (0330 GMT) and they look good value to level the series at 11/4.

The first Test did not quite go to plan, but expectations were never high of an England victory in Brisbane where they have not won in more than 30 years.

That said, there were plenty of positives from the opening match and the conditions could suit at the weekend.

England’s 10-wicket defeat was not a true reflection of the match after the tourists competed well for three days. James Vincent, Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan all batted well in the first innings, scoring battling half-centuries to give England hope of a decent score.

Root admitted he made a mistake in underusing James Anderson against Australia’s tail-enders, but that won’t be the case in the second Test when the Lancashire quick and Stuart Broad should be able to get some movement from the pink ball.

England don’t need much motivation to avenge the first-Test defeat, but knowing they next travel to The Waca where they have not won since 1978 means victory is essential in Adelaide.

The key to England’s hopes of squaring the series is ensuring Steve Smith does not get too comfortable at the crease. The Aussie skipper struck a gritty 141 in the first innings and as Root pointed out, the hosts would have been bowled out for just 150 without him.

The day-night conditions under the floodlights could suit England’s bowlers, who have got nothing to fear from Australia’s top seven.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh all look suspect so with the levelling conditions, a win for the tourists is not beyond them.

England to beat Australia in the second Test @ 11/4

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