England in India, 2005-06

Strauss backs England to overcome setbacks

Cricinfo staff

February 26, 2006

Andrew Strauss: 'This whole tour so far is asking questions of our character' © Getty Images

"This whole tour so far is asking questions of our character and it is a great opportunity for us to show how we can react to adversity," said Strauss. "In some ways this team will be judged as much on how we react to situations like this as we will be on winning the Ashes or anything else."

Strauss says that the belief that England have built up over the last couple of years has not been diminished by their 2-0 defeat in Pakistan and can stand this latest test of character.

"We have won consistently over a long period of time, I know we had that aberration in Pakistan. But there is still a lot of latent confidence there that when our backs are against the wall and there are some tough sessions to be played we have got the players and character to come out of those sessions and win them.

"India have been playing very well and I am sure they will back themselves to do the same sort of thing but, as far as our ship is concerned, to have the confidence and belief we can win from any situation....that has not changed."

For the second Test running England will be without their frontline opening partnership. Strauss was absent for the final Test against Pakistan, at Lahore, and now he will open the innings without Trescothick. He said the thoughts of the team are with him but they are focused on overcoming the latest setback.

"He has played a major part in all the success we have had. It is going to be tough without him but these things happen in international cricket. As his team-mates and his mates we all hope he comes to terms with what he has to come to terms with. Our job is not to miss him too much on the field."

If Vaughan proves his fitness in time for the Nagpur Test, he will open with Strauss otherwise Alastair Cook will make his debut, just 72 hours after arriving in India. "We have all had to bat in different positions, me in one-day internationals for example, with different players," Strauss said. "Whoever it is it's a question of building up a partnership pretty quickly.

"In Tests you are very focused on your own game anyway and you get inside your own bubble of concentration. You are largely responsible for your own performance and let others take care of their own."

Even the batsmen who have been fully fit during the warm-up period - and there are precious few - have been far from convincing. It replicates the start of the Pakistan tour, where the top order failed to hit their straps ahead of the first Test and subsequently fell apart chasing 193 to win at Multan.

On the early days of that tour the England camp were adamant it wouldn't matter once the internationals started and there are similar noises coming out of India. "We have to make sure we are 100 percent prepared mentally for that Test match," said Strauss. "If we are prepared mentally I don't think the scores we have got in tour will have much effect on what happens on the pitch come Wednesday."

© Cricinfo