Andrew Strauss looks forward to claim the Ashes series
England captain Andrew Strauss targets the number one spot in the ICC rankings after hammering http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Ashes series. In addition to England’s win in Melbourne, Strauss insisted his team to improve their performance
in order to become the best side in the world.
The visitors trounced the home team by a significant margin of an innings and 157 runs in the Boxing-Day Test and in doing so, they retained the urn. In the fourth game, the hosts were completely outplayed by an in-form English outfit, considering all departments
of the game.
Moreover, Australia capitulated for 98 runs by virtue of their dismal batting display in the first innings. The touring side needed only one innings to register a win, and they did so, as they posted 513 runs in their only innings. Trailing by 415 runs,
the Kangaroos folded for 258 runs in their second innings, assuring that England take the Ashes back home.
The English skipper is not completely convinced with his team’s success in the penultimate Test of the series. The final game of the series will be played on the 3rd of January in Sydney. England’s first target is to ensure that the Australians
don’t level the series. A draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground will see England winning a Test series in the Baggy-green land, since 1986/87.
Strauss told in an interview, “Our objective was to come out here and win the series.”We have not achieved that yet. It is reassuring to know the Ashes are going to remain in England for another couple of years.”
He added, “It will leave a very sour taste in the mouth if we are not able to go on and convert our position into a series win in Sydney. We should enjoy tonight and rightly so, but it is back to square one for Sydney”.
In a Test series, England haven't beaten Australia Downunder in 24 years. The last time the visitors won the Ashes in the land of Kangaroos, was in 1987. Strauss might become the first English captain to secure a series win on Australian soil, since Mike
Gatting.
Going into the New Year’s Test, the visiting team looks far more secure and confident to start 2011 on a winning note. On the other hand, the Australian unit looks depleted and, in order to beat their Arch rivals, they have to play out of their skins.
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