The Ashes: We must be ready for anything - Strauss

England players listen to Andy Flower during an England training session at the WACA. Photo / Getty Images

Not even the old fire alarm in the middle of the night gag will distract England from the task of securing the Ashes with victory in the third Test.

In 2009, the last time England were 1-0 up and needing a win to claim the urn, their sleep and preparations were scrambled when a mischievous fire alarm was set off in their team hotel at 4.50am on the first morning of the fourth Test at Leeds.

While it was not used as an excuse, the disruption hardly aided Andrew Strauss' team as they were promptly routed for 102 on day one and then slid to an innings defeat.

A repeat prank by Australian supporters seems unlikely in Perth, and Strauss tended to think his side's greatest problem at Leeds was to become too preoccupied with the thought of winning the Ashes.

"You've got to be ready for all sorts of distractions, but I hope it's not one of those," he said.

"I'd certainly like to think we've learned some lessons from that Headingley Test match.

"We had a game against South Africa at the Wanderers, which was a similar situation - one up with one to play, and we didn't play very well.

"But ultimately it's about not looking too far ahead. We did that at Headingley, when we were thinking about winning the Ashes. That was unhelpful.

"If we just treat this game like any other we've played - trying to win the first half-hour, and take it in small incremental steps - then there's no reason why we can't have the same result as we had in Adelaide."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has suggested that the WACA ground is the most foreign set of conditions an English player can face around the world, and Strauss did not disagree.

"The last Test match I played here four years ago wasn't massively quick and bouncy, and the warm-up game we played here wasn't massively quick and bouncy, but there are differences here," he said.

"You need to leave balls, and have to be more judicious about which ones you play and leave here than on other pitches.

"You need to adapt your game - and that is what cricket is about all over the world.

"You go to India, you need to adapt your game to the conditions there - and likewise here.

"Australia's record here is very good, so that suggests they're better at adapting to these conditions than other teams.

"But that means it's a great opportunity for us to show we're a better side than we used to be."

A potentially lively pitch is also a factor in England's planning, and the decision on who of Chris Tremlett or Tim Bresnan to pick has been left until match morning.

One certainty however is the place of Jimmy Anderson, despite his rushed round-the-world trip to be home for the birth of his daughter, Ruby.

"Jimmy's fine, absolutely spot on," said Strauss.

"He feels happy that he's managed to get there for the birth and he's brought back that slightly euphoric feeling with him."

- AAP