England doing all the talking

[Square Drive]

Swann trying to get over his fear of the sledgehammer that is Sehwag

They are preparing for our T20 match..

[saneindian]

The Lankans are now going to remind the poms that there is a t20 and ODI series to be played before the India series they have all been talking about. I see some embrassments for England in the shorter formats now that Mallinga and Mathooz are back for Lankans.

[flamy]

Yah Kabira. :cantstop: I proudly fail the Tebbit test :isalute:

:icflove::icflove: :isalute:

[flamy]

Swann trying to get over his fear of the sledgehammer that is Sehwag

Brill! :haha:

[Pagalpanti]

Englishmen already looking for other job opportunities (repairing tyres) :giggle: They know they're in for a bashing.

[SachDan]

Strauss: To win against India, we need to step up a level Andrew Strauss wants England to keep India legend Sachin Tendulkar waiting to register his 100th international century in the forthcoming npower Test series. Tendulkar has notched up 51 Test tons and 48 one-day international hundreds in his remarkable career and could achieve the three-figure milestone in the series opener at Lord's next week. But Strauss hopes to leave the 37-year-old stuck on the 99 mark as long as possible and insists India are not a one-man team. He said: "The longer it goes on, that he is on 99, the better. We know what a quality player Sachin is. You only have to look at his record to see that. "We are not focusing on him. He will get just as much or as little attention as any one of their other players because they have quality from one to 11. "They are not a one-trick pony by any means. There are going to be some challenges there for our bowlers. They have a very good batting line-up." But Strauss believes England are capable of rising to the challenge world number one side India will provide. He said: "I'm excited about this series. It will be a great test of us as a side and one we're capable of passing. "We're all going to be very motivated, me more than most, and hopefully that will equate to some good scores. "I think the side is better equipped than in 2007 (when England lost to India). "We've had a lot of success recently and we're a more competent unit. We're comfortable in our home conditions. "We've been progressing every series we've been playing in over the last couple of years. "We are going to be required to step up a level over the next four Test matches but we're more than capable of doing it. "That motivation of playing against the best side in the world is just the challlenge we need at the moment - and one we're more than capable of overcoming." India only finished their Test series in the West Indies on Sunday and play just one game - against Somerset - before the first Test. Strauss wants England to take advantage of any lack of preparation India may find themselves having to overcome. He said: "We know that most international teams have a short run-in for Test matches. "That's just the way modern touring is. The most important thing is, if there are any weaknesses or vulnerabilities or rustiness, we exploit that in the first Test. "We need to make sure our operation is as good as possible. "That first Test match is always the marker to set the tone for the rest of the series and we'll have to play that one well." Former England coach Duncan Fletcher will be in charge of India but Strauss believes he can have only a certain amount of impact on events in the middle. He said: "Duncan knows a number of our players reasonably well but I've always felt that the planning aspect is (only) one part of it. "People delivering out in the middle is the most important thing and your coaches aren't out there in the middle with you. "I'm sure he'll be very motivated to win this series but it's not something we're focusing our attentions on." ::Strauss was speaking at a track day organised by Jaguar, official car supplier to the England cricket team.

[vamos_rafa]

I like this guy's statements. Nothing OTT. comparing his statements with those of Swann or KP or baby,there's a stark difference.

[deepak_sach]

Strauss is a perfect gentleman.

[Switchblade]

Strauss is a perfect gentleman.

+1

[gaurav92]

Well done Straussy :nice:

[Switchblade]

India series up there with the Ashes: Strauss http://cricket.expressindia.com/news/india-series-up-there-with-the-ashes-strauss/816873/ London: England Test captain Andrew Strauss considers the upcoming series against India as tough as the historic Ashes but is banking on home advantage to upstage the world's number one side. "This series against India is certainly up there with the Ashes. I think the one thing we have in our advantage over the Ashes is home advantage," said Strauss ahead of the series starting July 21 at the Lord's. "We expect to beat any side at home – and so you should – because it is a substantial advantage. But you only have to look at what India have done in the last two years to know they will be incredibly confident," he added. Tough it might be but Strauss said the prospect of facing the world's top side is also great motivation to do well. "They have a lot of good players and are heavily motivated to win. We will have to be at our best if we want to compete with them. We're under no illusions on that, but that excites us. "In international cricket, you always need challenges like this. I think we're better equipped than in 2007. We've had a lot of success recently and we're a more competent unit. We've been progressing every series we've played over the last couple of years," he said. "Over the next four Test matches we're more than capable of winning. That motivation of playing against the best side in the world is just what we need at the moment," Strauss added. Strauss takes over from ODI skipper Alastair Cook. Talking about England's experiment with three captains for all three formats (Stuart Broad being in charge of the Twenty20 side, Strauss said he is still adjusting. "The simple answer is I don't know how it will be," he said. "I have seen a few of the lads over the last couple of weeks and it didn't feel particularly different – but we never know how things are going to work out. You can't be sure and it would be arrogant for me to assume that it will be exactly as it was. "But it is not like we are doing radically different things. Alastair, myself and Stuart Broad, we are still operating within a general strategy which we have all had a hand in formulating," he added.

[Karan114]

Sensible comments from Strauss...it really is so hard to call, this series. Should be brilliant viewing.

[Sidhoni]

:isalute: India :cheer:

[Midfielder]

Strauss is making way more sense that others who have been running their mouths. He seems motivated.

[Dhondy]

Sensible comments from Strauss...it really is so hard to call' date=' this series. Should be brilliant viewing.[/quote'] He's just being polite. It'll be a massacre.

[Sachinism]

He's just being polite. It'll be a massacre.

LOL looks like you're caught up in the hype

[Bradman99]

I've got great respect for Strauss, it's hard not to like him. He is always grateful in defeat and humble in victory.

[Andy]

I do not like this, we are best when opposition Ridicules us.

[Sir_Afridi]

Strauss is right 50%. Bowling to India will be big challenge for English bowlers but this is England series to lose. Facing Indian fast bowlers is hardly a a challenge for any decent top order batsman. The quality of bowling England will be facing is far far inferior compare to last summer standards.

[goose]

I've got great respect for Strauss' date=' it's hard not to like him. He is always grateful in defeat and humble in victory.[/quote'] you mean gracious?