Strauss calls for tenacious England

Simon Jones embodies England's aggression on the first day at Lord's four years ago with a send-off for Michael Clarke

Buy this photo

Andrew Strauss will urge England to follow the example of 2005 and show an aggressive intent to Australia when this summer's Ashes series gets underway in Cardiff next week.

England believe the foundations for their stunning success four years ago were set in the first over of the series at Lord's when Steve Harmison whistled the first ball past Justin Langer's nose and struck a damaging blow to his elbow off the next delivery.

Harmison also hit Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the cheek as they were dismissed for 190 shortly before tea on the opening day and although the tourists claimed a comprehensive victory, the tone of the series had been set - England would not back down from a confrontation.

It is an attitude and temperament which current captain Strauss wants to repeat either with bat or ball when the 2009 series gets underway on Wednesday.

"That side of things in the first couple of games will be like the first couple of rounds in a boxing match," stressed Strauss.

"People will be looking for signs for who’s coming out on top so it will be important to grab momentum early but also both sides will be looking at each other and weighing each other up.

"I think we know the type of cricket we needs to play to beat the Aussies, we just need to go out and play it.

"We've got our plans for how we’re going to contend with the Aussies but there’s no doubt that if you want to play well against Australia you have got to take them on and be prepared to scrap.

"Anybody who goes in there and just thinks ‘oh no we’ll just stick to our own game’ are going to come unstuck. Our players are absolutely certain that they will go out there and go for blow for blow - there’s a fine line between aggression and being over the top, so we have to check that line carefully."

England's ambitions in that area have been helped by the return of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who bowled with hostility and aggression to claim 2-16 from nine overs during England's drawn warm-up match against Warwickshire this week.

While Strauss has welcomed the return of England's influential all-rounder he had already detected signs of a side ready to compete against Australia even during Flintoff's absence during the Test series win over West Indies earlier this summer.

Andrew Flintoff stands alone at Edgbaston, but his skipper Andrew Strauss believes the all-rounder's effect on the team ethic is key to bringing the Ashes back into England's hands

Strauss is confident that Flintoff's very name on the team-sheet could intimidate Australia following his heroics in 2005.

"You just have to look at the way Fred bowled in that match," enthused Strauss.

"If he bowls with aggression no player in the world is going to enjoy that, it’s as simple as that and I still think there are some scars in their side.

"Maybe some of their batsman haven’t faced him very much before, but they will have watched that series four years ago and know that when he’s good he’s very, very good. If he can start well that is going to be a big bonus for us."

Whatever the line-up England decide upon for the start of the Ashes series, though, Strauss admitted it would be a proud moment leading them out in a home Ashes Test.

"There have been times over the last month when I have been thinking about leading out the England side in an Ashes Test and every time I do think that I get that tingle of excitement, no doubt about it and the closer it gets the more exciting it becomes," admitted Strauss.

"I just can’t wait until Wednesday morning. I think the rest of the players feel very similarly. There has been a big build-up and the bigger the build-up becomes the more you just want to get out there and play.

"It's a matter of honour to lead your country in an Ashes series. We all know the tradition and history that comes with an Ashes series and we all know that as England player it’s what you’re remembered for.

"It was a very proud moment to play in my first Ashes series and I think there is something even more special about it being at home as well. As I say I can’t wait to get going now."