England lost the first Test in 2005 by 239 runs before coming back for a 2-1 series upset that snapped Australia's eight-series grip on the old urn.

That series turned when Australian strike bowler Glenn McGrath hurt his ankle trodding on a ball while practising in the hour before the second Test and was ruled out for two of the next three matches.

England again has lost the series opener, this time by 277 runs in Brisbane. And McGrath, after taking 6-50 in England's first innings here, is hobbling on a badly bruised heel.

``We went 1-0 down at Lord's,'' Flintoff reminded interviewers after Monday's loss at the Gabba. ``We've been in this position before, 1-0 down in an Ashes series with four to play. We've got to take the positives out of this game.''

England was 647 runs behind with two days remaining going into its last innings and a defiant fourth-wicket partnership between Paul Collingwood (96) and Kevin Pietersen (92) gave the tourists a glimmer of hope.

That was crushed Monday, when Pietersen fell to Brett Lee on the fourth ball of the final day.

``Over the past 24 hours we salvaged something,'' said Flintoff. ``That partnership showed what good players they are and took a bit of pride from the game for us.''

The next Test starts Friday in Adelaide, giving England little time to regroup.

``We can't mope around. It's not a bad thing another Test coming straight around,'' Flintoff said. ``We can sink our teeth into it . . . to be thrown into another one is probably the best thing that could happen.''

Unlike the last series, which started in a frenzy of short-pitch deliveries, the 2006-07 series had a faltering start with Steve Harmison bowling the first ball wide to second slip.

Australian opener Justin Langer, who ducked under what he described as the perfect opening ball from Harmison in 2005 and was hit on the elbow by the next, also faced Harmison first ball here.

He said Harmison's two wides in the first over could be an omen.

But Flintoff disagreed, saying England had shaken off its nerves and would be a better side at Adelaide.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting contributed 196 to Australia's first innings of 602-9 declared and decided not to enforce the follow-on when England was bowled out for 157 in reply.

Instead, he added another unbeaten 60 before declaring again at 202-1, giving England 170 overs to try and save the match.

Flintoff attributed the poor performance of his bowlers to ``nerves knocking around.''

England only took 10 wickets and conceded 804 runs in Australia's two innings, meaning something has to be done to bolster the attack.

Harmison is clearly out of form and claimed only one wicket and James Anderson hardly bothered the Australians at all.

Flintoff, who had restricted his bowling after returning from ankle surgery, bore the brunt of the load in the first innings and took 4-99.

Flintoff said Harmison, who took 17 wickets in the last Ashes series and was integral to the pace quartet that unsettled the Australians with reverse swing, would regain his rhythm.

``He's desperate to get into this series. He's desperate to bowl the way we all know he can,'' Flintoff said. ``Harmy's just got to keep working and hopefully things will come right for him.''

The formation of the England 11 is likely to change in Adelaide, with spinner Monty Panesar a strong candidate either as a replacement or partner for Ashley Giles.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Giles was preferred in Brisbane, despite being sidelined for 12 months with a hip problem, because he gives England's batting lineup more depth at No. 8.

Flintoff and coach Duncan Fletcher will defer a decision on the combination until inspecting the pitch in Adelaide.

Australia won the last Ashes series it played at home 4-1 and has not lost a series here to anyone since the West Indies in 1992-93.

``It'll be tough to come from 1-0 down _ we can't hide from that,'' Flintoff said. But, ``there's a lot at stake. There's a big incentive and we just have to get on with it.''

Flintoff did not expect any radical changes in the lineup or the game plan.

``We've played a brand of cricket over a period of time now and been successful and just because it's Australia we're not going to change,'' he said ``We're an aggressive team in the way we play.

``We'll look after our own game and play the way we've been successful.''