By Simon Jones England fast bowler

We're a very good side as well and on our day we will beat Australia

It's not been a very good couple of days for me.

Not only did we lose the first Test but my girlfriend has left me after reports about my private life in a Sunday newspaper.

It wasn't very nice for me to wake up, read the story, and go through the turmoil of seeing my girlfriend so upset about it.

As far as I am concerned, it was a pack of lies and, for me, the worst thing is that someone can apparently get away with that.

Kim is a great girl and I am keeping in touch with her now. We're giving each other some space - she's gone back to Singapore - and we'll see how things go.

It won't affect my cricket, which is a very important aspect of my life.

People throw things at you and you have to deal with them.

I've got a lot of friends around me and obviously my family give me a lot of support so I couldn't ask for any more.

Looking back at Lord's - yes I know we lost, but we have to be realistic.

We're a very good side as well and on our day we will beat them. It's a really good battle and it should be a good summer.

I'm the sort of bowler who needs to keep bowling

There are four Tests left and we have still got a hell of a chance of winning the Ashes.

There are not many teams that have bowled Australia out for 190 in the first innings. Steve Harmison bowled beautifully and so did the rest of us.

The pitch was very well prepared, despite what many observers said at the time. It was good to bat on as well.

With batsmen of Australia's class you have to do something different to get them out.

It's not just pace that's going to go through them.

Glenn McGrath is a world-class bowler. He loves bowling down the hill and he got everything right.

The dropped catches were difficult, and some came when I was bowling.

We're a strong unit, we're like a big family really and you realise that no-one means to drop catches. It's the worst feeling in the world when you do drop one.

You have to deal with it, realise a chance has gone and try even harder to get the next one

Between now and the Edgbaston Test I'll be doing my fitness work in the gym and some bowling and keep myself in nick.

I'm the sort of bowler who needs to keep bowling.

I'm going to meet up with Marcus Trescothick down in Somerset and have a net with him and I'll do some bowling by myself in the nets at Cardiff.

Sometimes you have to do things by yourself because there's no-one else around.

It's going to be a very tough five or six weeks.