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England held on for a draw against Victoria on Sunday before wicketkeeper Matt Prior declared the tourists were “hell-bent” on going through the summer unbeaten.
Set 311 to win at the MCG on the final day of the three-day game, England scored 6-211 before stumps were drawn with an hour of scheduled play remaining.
England shut up shop after tea, scoring only 52 runs in 21 overs with Prior finishing unbeaten on 102 and skipper Andrew Strauss on 22 from 65 balls.
The tourists go into the third Ashes Test starting on Thursday with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and can retain the urn with a win at the WACA.
Just four years ago England were thrashed 5-0 on their Ashes tour, but this time they’ve gone undefeated in two Tests and four other first-class games as they set their sights on an unbeaten summer Down Under.
A defiant Prior made no apologies for England’s dour tactics in the closing overs against Victoria.
“Winning is a habit and it’s a habit that you want to protect,” he said.
“If we had lost today, there would have been some very, very disappointed people.
“You can’t take for granted being on a good run.
“Certainly it was very important that we got through today.
“Why would you carry on playing your shots and potentially risk losing a game? We didn’t want to do that.
“We were hell-bent that we were going to get through the day.
“Unfortunately it was pretty boring cricket for everyone to watch. Sometimes it’s got to be done.
“If we carry on playing the brand of cricket we have been, there’s certainly no reason why we can’t go through unbeaten.”
Australia were unbeaten at home last summer against the West Indies and Pakistan, although the tables have quickly turned for Ricky Ponting’s men with careers potentially on the line in Perth.
Selectors have gambled on uncapped left-arm spinner Michael Beer and recalled out-of-form paceman Mitchell Johnson for their squad of 12 for the third Test, with Doug Bollinger, Marcus North and spinner Xavier Doherty all dumped.
Young opener Phil Hughes returns for the injured Simon Katich.
Beer, who only made his first-class debut two months ago, was still shaking his head in disbelief as he recalled the moment he got the selection news during a break in Western Australia’s Shield clash at the Gabba.
“It’s funny, I had finished lunch … and (Warriors coach) Mickey Arthur and (Australian selector) Jamie Cox were walking towards me … and they both had big smiles on their faces and they told me the news,” he said.
“To be honest the thought (of Test selection) never entered my head.
“That’s why it came as a bit of a surprise when I got told.”
Beer said he looked forward to a “meet and greet” with Australian teammates in Perth on Sunday night.
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