Strauss urges 'hunted' England to raise their game
Andrew Strauss has told his England team they will have to prepare
for their biggest challenge yet now they are a "hunted" side after
rising to number one in the world Test rankings.
Test captain Strauss led hosts England to a 4-0 series rout of India
earlier this year as the Ashes holders climbed to the summit of the
five-day game.
But England's new-found status will come under threat when they face
Pakistan in a three-match series in the United Arab Emirates starting in
January.
Mindset
"We recognise that the next 12-18 months will be the biggest test
we've had yet as a group," said Strauss, speaking at Lord's on Thursday
after the announcement of a 10-year deal for financial firm Investec to
become the sponsor of England's home Tests.
"It's a different mindset being the hunted rather than the hunters,"
opening batsman Strauss, who plays for Lord's-based Middlesex, added.
"We'll have to retain that desperate desire to improve if we want to
stay on top.
"There are a lot of teams below us who want to knock us off our
perch."
After the Pakistan series, England complete their off-season Test
programme with a two-match contest in Sri Lanka. Next year England are
at home to an improving West Indies and South Africa, who recently tied
1-1 in an exciting two-Test series with Australia, in three and four
match campaigns respectively.
"We've seen a resurgence in West Indies cricket in recent times, so
that will be a challenge for us," said Strauss.
"Hopefully (English) early-season conditions will suit us more than
them.
Qualities
"And we all know about the qualities of South Africa, they've just
finished an outstanding series against Australia.
Earlier Thursday, Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris said two-Test
series were a waste of time.
"Two-Test series, personally in my point of view, are pointless,"
said Harris. "If it's 1-1 at the end of the series you walk away with an
empty feeling. Three-Test series have to be a minimum, if not more."
Crowds for Tests in England, even before the start of the team's rise
to the top of the standings, have generally held up well, with tickets
for the first four days of most matches frequently selling out well in
advance.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) have repeatedly insisted the
five-day game remains the pinnacle of the sport.
Decision
However, the decision to delay the introduction of a world Test
championship until 2017 it was due to start in two years' time for
commercial reasons was seen as a blow to the standing of cricket's
oldest international format in an era of numerous one-day and Twenty20
internationals.
"In a lot of ways in the past we've relied on Test cricket always
being around," said Strauss.
"Now we must knock our heads together to evaluate what's the best way
of marketing it and how to bring people to the game.
"The added context of a world Test championship or something similar
is a good idea.
"I'd hate to think anyone's arrogant enough to assume Test cricket
will always be around. I don't think that's the case.
Support
"I'm buoyed by what great support there is for the game in this
country, but I'm also quite aware that in other parts of the world it's
less so.
"We're in a fortunate position here but it's up to administrators all
over the world to ensure they keep working on the product."
Both Investec and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have
refused to publicly reveal the worth of their sponsorship deal, although
estimates in the British press have ranged from £20-40 million.
Investec were previously a sponsor of England home rugby union Tests.
But their 12-year relationship with the Rugby Football Union (RFU)
ended in August before England's shambolic World Cup campaign in New
Zealand which has reportedly alarmed sponsors concerned by a series of
lurid headlines regarding the squad's conduct.
LONDON, Friday (AFP)
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