Strauss says England prepared for Ashes
On the eve of England’s departure for their Ashes defence in Australia, captain Andrew Strauss has told how he believes his side prepared to meet the challenge that awaits them down under.
“We've had a lot of success over the last 18 months [which included their 2009 Ashes win at home] so confidence levels are very high,” Strauss told reporters. “Our preparation has been very good. Andy Flower [team director] has prepared us well for this tour so there's a feeling of relaxed excitement about what lies ahead.”
"It’s a huge challenge going Australia and winning, but we have pretty much left no stone unturned in terms of making sure we hit the ground running.”
That they haven’t, with their Ashes preparations including the use of a high-tech bowling machine that simulates a bowler (think Mitchell Johnson or Doug Bollinger) charging towards the batsman before the ball is delivered and a team bonding camp in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Germany-c2904, which for the moment will be judged from the outside at least for the ill-advised boxing bout that left swing bowler James Anderson with a cracked rib, but which may yet pay dividends down under.
Strauss though is all too aware that the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
“Ultimately preparation only takes you so far, you’ve got to front up when it matters and win the crucial sessions, but I’ve got every confidence our players are going to be able to do that.”
And while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 accompanied by the words “Don’t forget to pack the urn” onto the tower of Big Ben – with Ponting already naming the England players he believes are facing form worries, Strauss is by contrast seemingly reluctant to buy into the public mind games in which is opposition number playing.
“We don’t like the idea of getting caught up in a war of words with the Australian team, I think you can spend hours trying to think up witty retorts to comments or you can spend hours concentrating on getting your game in order, and that’s certainly the route we’re looking to take.”
The skipper isn’t about to let Australia’s recent Test form, where they’ve suffered three losses in their past four matches and dropped to a ranking of world No. 5, lull him or his team into a sense of false security as they depart for their Ashes defence – on enemy territory where they were whipped 5-0 during their last visit in 2006/07.
“I think it’s pretty irrelevant what the rankings say,” Strauss said. “They’re a very strong side at home, their record’s outstanding there, and we expect them to be a tough side to get on top of.”
If England can manage to do so, they will end a losing Ashes run in Australia that stretches back more than two decades with their last Test series victory in Australia taking place in 1986/87.
And more bragging rights than Strauss, if his pre-Ashes modesty is anything to judge by, will know what to do with for the next two-and-a-half years.
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