Jonathan Trott had the measure of Australia's attack for more than six hours during the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, but knows he and his team-mates will have to start all over again at the Adelaide Oval.

Trott's unbeaten hundred in an unbroken triple-century second-wicket stand was one of three reasons - Alastair Cook's 235 not out and Andrew Strauss' 110 were the others - England left Brisbane on a high.

"I've been pretty fortunate to do pretty well," he said, reflecting on his two hundreds in his only two Ashes Tests so far. "But individually and as a team, things can change pretty quickly."

Trott began his association with the Ashes with a second-innings century at The Oval last year to help England win that series 2-1. But he was the only member of England's top six to go into last week's opening match without a previous half-century on this tour.

"Leading up to the Test match, I felt in good nick but I hadn't been able to kick on and get a big score," he admitted.

"So I was very pleased to contribute to an excellent fightback that was set up by Straussy and Cooky

"The wicket flattened out, and that's what Test cricket is about.

"It's about hard yards; sometimes you get on wickets as a batter that are tricky to bat on, so it evens itself out.

"At the Gabba it probably wasn't what you want as an ideal Test wicket, but you get on with what you're given - and we did that pretty well.

"Being 200 behind (in the first innings) wasn't ideal. But we showed great character in the way we were able to get back in the game."