Time for Clarke to keep it simple

It was clear to anyone watching the first two Tests that Michael Clarke is looking for rhythm and time in the middle. Part of this is to do with the problems posed by a very good bowler, Stuart Broad, but there are other factors too. He just hasn't really got into the Test match mode of batting, which can only be reached as a product of spending time out there.

If you look at Steve Smith, he's been in that mode for quite some time now. Every time he walks out, he plays the same way and keeps things simple. He's found a consistent rhythm and tempo to his batting, and Pup hasn't been able to find that through lack of time in the middle.

I spoke to Michael at Lord's about how when something means as much to you as an Ashes series does, sometimes you want it a bit too much and try too hard. This stops you from allowing your own free and natural style to come out. I know in the last couple of years of my career I wanted it too much, tried too hard, tried to do everything perfectly rather than just going out and batting.

Something Michael is clearly doing at the moment is using a pre-delivery foot movement against Broad that is different to how he is handling the other England bowlers. As Broad has troubled him with short balls in the past, Michael has been moving back to try to cover for that angle of attack, but he is also trying to get forward against the others.

A little like myself, Michael has always looked his best when getting on to the front foot, because it gives the bowlers so much less room for error. But because his weight is going backwards in anticipation of short stuff, he is in a vulnerable position to play the full ball. His second-innings dismissal in Cardiff was highlighted for what was termed a loose shot, but if he had been looking to get forward, I have no doubt it would have been a half-volley hitting the middle of his bat.

As a batsman you get used to working out where a ball is going to reach you based on the bowler's release point. But if your foot movement is different to what you are used to it is that much harder to get that right in time. That's why Michael got out the way he did in Cardiff, and it will be interesting to see whether he reverts to a simpler style of play in Birmingham.

Going back a couple of years to when Michael was playing at his best, there was something very free and simple about what he was doing. I can remember watching him in Adelaide against South Africa, when he hit Morne Morkel back over his head a few times on the way to another double-century. He just looked totally confident in what he was doing. All he was thinking about then was making runs.

But when you start worrying about other things or trying to do things perfectly, the scoring runs part of the job is no longer the first thing on your mind. With a little bit of time in the middle, that will start to come back. In the second innings at Lord's there were signs of some touch coming back to him, as he hustled his way to an unbeaten 32 ahead of a declaration. That sort of scenario can be good for finding form as you're thinking purely about scoring and less worried about getting out.

One thing that all members of the team will be excited about is the opportunity to move ahead in this series. Recent history suggests it is only getting harder to win away from home, and over a long period of time Australia have struggled for consistency when touring overseas. I played in a team that managed to achieve multiple overseas victories, but it is only the very best sides who can manage to do so.

That being said, I do feel this team is very well placed to go on and take this series out. Off the back of such an emphatic result at Lord's, they've gone to Derby and ironed out a few kinks during the tour game, and they've rested the fast bowlers and Smithy. England's team changes - bringing in Jonny Bairstow and promoting Ian Bell to No. 3 - will not worry Australia too much.

To me, Bell has looked as out of sorts as anyone in the first two Tests, and I would be very surprised to hear that he actually asked to bat there. I know it has been reported that he was happy to bat anywhere, but that's what any batsman will say if he's struggling to keep his spot in the team. An out-of-touch No. 3 batsman will only help Australia as they chase back-to-back wins and a series lead.