Strauss wants team not individual effort from England players

PERTH - England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has said that he is looking for a team rather than an individual effort from the squad when they take on the Australians in the Ashes here.

Facing the media soon after England’s 15-man squad arrived in Perth late yesterday, Strauss dismissed the notion that winning the five-Test series will depend on outstanding performances from one of its opening batsmen and also one of its new-ball bowlers.

“Clearly I hope I can be that outstanding opening batsman, but actually I’m not sure that’s the way to win out here. I think when you’re out here you can’t afford any passengers in your side. You need all 11 to be performing and standing up at the right time,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Strauss, as saying.

“Our bowling unit’s done well in England over the summer. The challengers here will be very different, but one of the things I’ve liked about our bowling unit is that they’ve complemented each other quite well, so when it’s turning Graeme Swann’s been a great threat, when it’s swinging Jimmy Anderson’s been outstanding the last 12 months, and on wickets that have been a bit bouncier Steven Finn and Stuart Broad have done a good job,” he added.

He said: “I think it’s that balance, to be able to adapt to different circumstances and situations in a game, that’s probably more crucial than one or two players having a great series.”

“There’s a relaxed excitement about the group. Now, we’ve touched down and are on Australian soil, everything’s a bit more at the forefront of our minds about what lies ahead of us, what massive opportunities there are, and also how determined we are to come out here and play well,” he said. (ANI)