Inside view: Adelaide

Darren Lehmann Australia, South Australia and Yorkshire batsman

Adelaide is, in my opinion, the best Test wicket around.

We have had results for the last 10 or 12 years here and it is a ground that offers everything for everyone.

Shane Warne has taken 51 wickets in 12 Tests at Adelaide

It is good for the fast bowlers for the first couple of days, then it comes good for the spinners as it usually starts to turn from day three.

It really starts to spin big on the fifth day but there is also variable bounce for the faster bowlers.

On the other side of the coin, though, you get value for shots. If you bat well you can make big scores - and make them quickly.

As a result Test matches in Adelaide always move forward and bring results, which is what everyone wants.

If you win the toss, you would bat first in Adelaide every time.

If you even think about bowling, you will think about it for one second of your life because after day two, the wicket will start to turn, so you will want a decent score on the board before this happens.

The weather doesn't really make much of a difference - even if it is overcast you should still bat first.

In my opinion the Adelaide Test is the best Test match of the summer

It's not as quick as the other wickets in Australia but it definitely does a bit with the new ball.

But like any pitch, you will reap the rewards if you bowl in the right areas. That is what both teams will be trying to do when they bowl.

It is about getting what you can out of the wicket and bowl as well - and as straight - as you can.

It is a big ground, it has long, straight boundaries but they are quite short square of the wicket.

So the one thing you can't do at Adelaide is bowl wide and short - otherwise you will be dispatched to the boundaries.

Technically, as a batsman, you don't need to do anything different.

In my opinion the Adelaide Test is the best Test match of the summer.

It's a beautiful, picturesque ground, people enjoy the atmosphere and they almost certainly get a result.

It has a real party atmosphere for people that go there, they will definitely enjoy it.

It's a little less rowdy than Melbourne or Sydney, the crowd just enjoy and applaud good cricket from either side.

Darren Lehmann was speaking to Martin Gough