CRICKET: England's  patched-up squad will go into the second Test against Australia tomorrow with captain Nasser Hussain insisting the Adelaide Oval must be the stage for his side to finally show they have the necessary resolve to mount an Ashes fightback.

Ever since England collapsed with 79 all out at The Gabba and slipped to a 384-run first Test defeat, sceptics in both countries have questioned their ability to compete with Steve Waugh's powerful Australian side.

Since the Brisbane humbling, England's resources have been further weakened by the loss of Darren Gough and Simon Jones to knee injuries while both Ashley Giles and Andrew Flintoff were yesterday also ruled out for the next two Tests at the very least.

But Hussain, who rejoined the squad in Adelaide yesterday morning after witnessing the birth of his second son Joel in a Perth hospital the previous evening, believes there is still enough talent to enable England to demonstrate their best cricket over the next week.

"The cricket's not been great here - it's as simple as that," he said.

"There have been a lot of injuries and we haven't done the basics right and we have to turn things around pretty soon starting with this week in Adelaide.

"Sometime on this tour we're going to have to pin-point this as the time we turned things around.

"Individually someone is going to have to go back to their room and say, "I'm going to get Matt Hayden out", or something like Robert Key going out and getting 170-odd.

"I don't mind if it's on an individual basis or a team basis but eventually someone has got to stand up and say they're going to turn things around." To achieve that Hussain is well aware that England's spirits must be high, not an easy task after the loss of Flintoff and Giles to injuries yesterday which has left the squad looking a little threadbare.

Lifting morale, though, is essential if England are to improve their level of performance and prevent this series spiralling quickly towards another comprehensive Australian triumph.

"Losing becomes a habit and that is something we have to get out of here," stressed Hussain.

"If a session goes against us I've got to make sure as captain that people are not thinking, "here we go again" - that's something we have to guard against.

"One thing you will get from the England cricket team is that they are honest and we know we're playing a very good Australian side but it's about time we put things right and that will not come from getting down or depressed." Giles's fractured left wrist, sustained while batting against Steve Harmison in the nets, should ensure England resists the temptation to recall Kent batsman Key despite his unbeaten 174 to prevent defeat against Australia A in Hobart earlier this week.

"If you go through the top order who have played for England in the last year they nearly all average over 50," added Hussain.

"The old days of chopping and changing are not where we are now and we want to give people a good chance to show what they can do." Hampshire batsman John Crawley, doubtful after sustaining a bruised right hip at least gave England something positive to report after successfully coming through training.