Strauss: England in good health

Andrew Strauss is pleased with the contribution of players like Michael Yardy © Getty Images

Captain Andrew Strauss believes England’s
end-of-season displays have given the selectors plenty to think about ahead of Tuesday's ICC Champions Trophy squad announcement.

England turned around a miserable run in limited-overs cricket with two straight victories against Pakistan to share the NatWest Series.

Prior to the 2-2 draw, they had won only three matches out of 20 in one-day series campaigns, during defeats to Australia, Pakistan, India and, most comprehensively, Sri Lanka.

Perhaps most encouraging for forthcoming tournaments was the way the new generation acclimatised at the highest level.

Sajid Mahmood cemented his place in the side with a man-of-the-match display in Sunday’s three-wicket victory at Edgbaston, having suffered during the 5-0 whitewashing by Sri Lanka, while new spinning all-rounders Jamie Dalrymple and Michael Yardy proved to be the finds of the summer.

“A lot of the guys that have come in have done very well,” said Strauss. “It’s not easy when you first start your international career to come in and perform straight away.

“The likes of Dalrymple and Saj and Yardy have done well and that’s encouraging.

Jamie Dalrymple also shone during the drawn NatWest Series against Pakistan

“Hopefully, there are a lot of names which the selectors have to mull over for that Champions Trophy squad.

“I hope these couple of wins here have given us a little bit more confidence going into that tournament and if we continue doing that there’s no reason why we can’t do pretty well in that.”

England’s problems in the shorter form of the game remain, but the last week of the NatWest Series around the country has undoubtedly boosted
self-esteem.

Strauss puts the change in mood down to a never-say-die attitude which first came to light in the day-nighter at Southampton.

“The Rose Bowl was probably a bit of a turnaround,” said Strauss. “We competed for the first time in a while.

“We showed a lot of stomach for the fight. There was an intensity about our fielding, a lot more belief there, and maybe that just started to seep back a bit of confidence for the last couple of games.”

Strauss is upbeat about England’s chances in the Champions Trophy, which has been won by outsiders in the past - West Indies beat Michael Vaughan’s men in the final when it was held in England two years ago.

“We’ve always said that on our day we can beat any side in the world,” Strauss said.

“We’ve got match-winning players and, with a bit of confidence in our ranks as well, there’s no reason why we can’t do well.

Sajid Mahmood emerged from a difficult period to finish the summer in impressive fashion

“We’re going to have to play at our best and that’s something we haven’t done well enough over the last 12 months.

“Now is the time for us to really start doing that. We’ve got the Champions Trophy and an important series in Australia to really hit our straps before that World Cup.”

In contrast to last summer, when England won the Ashes by using only a dozen men, eight players have made one-day international debuts this summer.

But a myriad of injuries has revealed healthy competition for places outside the established line-up.

“It’s been tough and there have been times when things have not gone our way, but if you look at the back end of the summer we’ve come back strong,” Strauss said.

“We’ve had a good Test series win over Pakistan and drawing a one-day series against them is no mean feat either.

“What encourages me most is that young guys have come in and shown they are ready to play at international level.

“That means there is a bit more depth in international cricket now. It’s not just about the 11 that played in the Ashes and that’s a healthy state to be in.

“The longer that continues the more healthy this England team is going to be.”