"We need to set the tone again and hopefully get them on a similar path to what we did in 2013."
Thursday 2 November 2017 17:00, UK
Steve Smith is hoping to "open a few scars" from England's Ashes whitewash in 2013-14 when Australia play Joe Root's side this winter.
Root, Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow and Steven Finn were part of the 5-0 drubbing in Australia four years ago and are in the squad this time around as England look to retain the urn they won at home in 2015.
Ben Stokes was a rare bright spot for England in that woeful tour down under, scoring a century in Perth and taking a six-for in Sydney in his maiden Ashes, but his arrest in September means his participation in the impending series is in doubt.
"The first Test match is going to be really important," Smith said in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, reflecting on Australia's 381-run win at Brisbane in the 2013-14 Ashes opener. "We need to set the tone again and hopefully get them on a similar path to what we did in 2013.
"A few players were out here for that tour, and hopefully we can get them thinking the same way, open a few of those scars up as such, get them thinking 'oh not this again' and that kind of thought process."
Smith is aware, however, that there are fragilities in the Australia line-up, too, with the selectors still pondering who to choose at No 6 and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade averaging just 24.20 in his seven Tests in 2017.
"We've had a lot of collapses in the last couple of years," he added. "I think in our last 15 games we've had 14 collapses or something like that. We can't afford to do that this summer.
"Six and seven are places where we'll need some rebuilding if those sorts of things happen and it's going to be a valuable spot if guys there are getting runs for us. It'll make a big difference, so let's hope that is the case."
Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood - who will step up his comeback from a side strain by playing his first Sheffield Shield match of the season for New South Wales this weekend - wants the pick at No 6 to offer a fifth bowling option.
"It's always nice having that all-rounder to maybe bowl five or six overs throughout the day," said Hazlewood.
"I think the way Gaz [off-spinner Nathan Lyon] has bowled over the last 12-18 months has been fantastic and he's been shouldering the workload if it does get put upon the quicks. But for balance you want runs and wickets from that No. 6 batter."
Hazlewood has also been talking about "scars", saying he wants fellow pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile to create some for England's batsmen in the tourists' opening warm-up game in Perth this weekend.
Coulter-Nile will captain a Western Australia XI against an England side who could be shorn of all-rounder Moeen Ali (side) and seam bowler Steve Finn (knee).
"Maybe [Coulter-Nile] can crack open a few of them early and create a few scars in their top and middle order. It'll be their first hit on tour, and to have a guy there like Coults to warm them up, I guess, would be nice."
Western Australia XI squad to play England: Nathan Coulter-Nile (captain), Will Bosisto, Jake Carder, Tim David, Kyle Gardiner, Aaron Hardie, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Hobson, Calum How, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Mark Turner.
