Strauss keen to keep moving

Andrew Strauss is keen to end the NatWest Series in winning fashion after the opening match was abandoned due to rain

Captain Andrew Strauss insists the washed-out first ODI and the absence of two key players will not deter England as they seek to build momentum this summer.

The opening game of the NatWest Series against West Indies at Headingley Carnegie yesterday was washed out without a ball being bowled, 24 hours after it was announced that Kevin Pietersen had been ruled out of the three-match contest.

Pietersen is resting a minor Achilles problem as a precaution, joining Andrew Flintoff, who continues his recovery from knee surgery, on the sidelines.

Strauss, however, is confident the squad can put the disappointment of Thursday’s abandonment behind them and build on their impressive form in the 2-0 Test series triumph as they step up their preparations for the World Twenty20 and Ashes.

“I don’t think the fact they’re not playing right now is a cause for concern,” Strauss said of Pietersen and Flintoff ahead of the second ODI at Bristol tomorrow.

“The guys who came in and played in the two-Test series played well and that’s encouraging rather than something to be concerned about.

“The Twenty20 I’m not involved in, but there are quite a few of the Ashes squad involved in that. If we can get more wins under the belt that will really help us.

Strauss is confident Kevin Pietersen, absent for the one-day campaign, will be fully fit for the start of the World Twenty20

“More than anything, we want that feelgood factor to continue and be developed from those two Tests against the West Indies.”

Pietersen is expected to be fit for the World Twenty20, which gets under way on June 6, and England remain confident that Flintoff will recover fully from his latest operation, despite initially misjudging the recuperation time.

Although both players featured in the Indian Premier League, Strauss claims there participation had little or no bearing on their current fitness concerns.

“I don’t think the IPL affected this injury in any way shape or form so in KP’s place,” he added.

“The first time he mentioned it was in the West Indies, but is very manageable and something that wasn’t a big issue. It was only last week in Durham that it really flared up, so why that happened we don’t really know.

“The medical staff feel that 10 days rest will do him the world of good, and we fully expect KP to be ready then.

“As we have said all along, a player can pick up injuries anywhere. It’s just a shame in Fred’s (Flintoff’s) case that he picked it up in the IPL.

England must maintain the "feelgood factor" sparked by their one-day success in the Caribbean, according to Strauss

“It’s not ideal situation but any time you get injuries it’s not an ideal situation. It’s so hard to second guess whether Fred would have been injured anyway – you just don’t know.

“Thankfully there is still plenty of time before the Ashes. There’s no need to panic just yet, injury-wise – it is something we can manage.”

Winners in the one-day series in the Caribbean earlier this year, England are keen to continue their improvement in one-day cricket ahead of the World Twenty20.

Strauss, though, is reticent to let planning for that tournament cloud his thinking for the remainder of the NatWest Series, which concludes at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

“I think it is important to compartmentalise each form of the game and pick the best side to play in any given series,” he said.

“We gained some momentum in one-day cricket in the West Indies – we were a little bit Jekyll and Hyde, up and down, but we came through and won the series and we need two more matches to develop something for the one-day squad.

“Then it goes to the Twenty20 with different players involved again, so you need to compartmentalise that.

“We will come out on Sunday, and hopefully the sun will be shining and we can play some good cricket.”