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Bayliss input turned England around: Waugh

National selector notices former NSW coaches influence in England's approach after second Test thumping

England's remarkable turnaround in the Ashes series which has seen them rebound from a thumping to the brink of triumph in two days of cricket could owe much to Australian coach Trevor Bayliss.

National selector Mark Waugh said he had been caught by surprise at England's resurgence at Edgbaston after the "absolute hiding we gave them at Lord's".

"I thought once we won at Lord's we would push on and win the series quite comfortably," Waugh told cricket.com.au.

"But England, you've got to give credit to them, they've bounced back really well in this Test. I think Trevor Bayliss, our Australian coach, may have had an impact on the side there.

"Maybe with their thought processes and the way they've played the game."

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Steve Finn picked up key second-innings wickets // Getty Images

Waugh said while the see-saw nature of the series had made compelling viewing, Australia's batsmen had plenty to ponder after two below-par innings in the third Test.

"We've been a little bit off with our bowling, but mainly our batting hasn't coped with the swing bowling," Waugh said.

"Every player has got to think about their own game and how they can improve."

After two Tests on flat, lifeless pitches widely seen as designed to nullify the effect of Australia's pace battery, Edgbaston has delivered a more typical England seamer that has found Australia wanting.

Australia lost seven wickets on the second day (restrictions apply)

"These days, the conditions we're confronted with in England you don't see a lot around the world," Waugh said.

"You see a lot of flat pitches and a lot of places the ball doesn't swing, so it's definitely a challenge for all of our batsmen.

"Every batsman has got to look at how they were dismissed and just think about it for the rest of the series."

Waugh said if Australia’s not-out batsmen Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc, plus bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, could somehow extend Australia's slender 23-run lead to around the 150 mark the tourists remained in the hunt.

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Mark Waugh says batsmen need to think hard about their dismissals // Getty Images

"This game is still not over and then there's two more Tests," Waugh said.

"We're definitely good enough, we've got a lot of class players. It's not lack of ability, just a combination of some good bowling and maybe a lack of application in some instances.

"It's going to be tight, it's a very even series.

"We've got the strike-power with the ball and the class with the bat; we've got to still think we can win this series."

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