Birmingham, England, July 9: England captain Nasser Hussain insisted his side could recover as they tried to absorb the impact of a crushing innings and 118-run first Test defeat against Australia here at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Adam Gilchrist's 152 was a display that earned comparison with England great Ian Botham's rapid 118 at Old Trafford against Australia 20 years ago as an example of an Ashes innings that laid the platform for a convincing victory.

Australia, with fine collective fast bowling and leg spinner Shane Warne's match return of eight for 100, overwhelmed Hussain's men.

"I'm not so worried about the psychological aspect of this match because we lost here for purely cricketing reasons," said Hussain, who had to retire hurt after having his left little finger fractured by fast bowler Jason Gillespie.

"We lost this match because we were outplayed in all three departments on the field. This is the best Australian side I've played against but they are beatable."

Perhaps Hussain, who is now doubtful for the second Test of the five-match series at Lord's on July 19 after sustaining his fourth hand fracture in two years, was simply keeping his tactics a secret because he did not say how England might secure victory against a side of such all-round talent.

Hussain's fellow batsmen Graham Thorpe (calf) and Michael Vaughan (knee) both missed this Test and Vaughan is definitely ruled out of the second Test while Surrey left-hander Thorpe is extremely doubtful.

In a Sunday newspaper column here Hussain wrote: "I wasn't overly impressed at having half a side" at Edgbaston and a similar fate could await him or probable deputy Alec Stewart in London.

"Whoever is chosen for Lord's must show a bit of character and compete with them. Australia will be thinking it's the same old England and it's our job to show them (we are) different. We've got to go back to our counties, work on our games and prepare for Lord's," said Hussain sounding rather like a politician, who despite mounting opinion poll evidence of electoral disaster is obliged to do his best to remain positive until the polling day.

Meanwhile Australia captain Steve Waugh will be looking to emulate predecessors Don Bradman in 1948 and Allan Border in 1989, who, among others, led their teams to an unbeaten Ashes Test campaign triumph in England.

Indeed Waugh wants to go one better. Both those previous series were won four-nil with rain helping salvage a draw in each case.

But having already led his side to 16 straight victories before two Test defeats in India last winter, Waugh is even ready to take on the English climate.

"We're here to win every match. I'm not saying we will win but we're not here to draw Tests," said the 36-year-old master batsman.

"We're enjoying Test cricket at the moment and we just want to win Tests as soon as possible then get in the dressing room so we can sing our team song ('Under the Southern Cross').

"England will have to play very well to beat us."

Australia have not lost an Ashes series since 1986-87 and on this evidence England will have to wait a while longer as Australia bid for a record seventh successive Ashes triumph in world cricket's oldest contest.

By the end of this summer Australia may well have cause to retitle their song 'Under the Southern Cosh'.