Andrew Strauss admits England still have room for improvement as they go for the series victory against Pakistan they will need if they are to set off for Australia with confidence intact.
Strauss sees a potentially difficult four-match series against Salman Butt’s tourists as an opportunity to continue a progression which began with last summer’s wins against West Indies and then in the Ashes.
Anything but another success, over a developing team which has just drawn 1-1 against Australia, would be a dent to England’s hopes of retaining the urn Down Under for the first time in almost a quarter of a century.
England’s most recent Test series was a 2-0 win at home to Bangladesh, since when they have been involved in one-day internationals before a mid-summer recess.
“We’re not necessarily where we want to be, but I think we’re making improvements,” said Strauss ahead of today’s Trent Bridge opener.
“My first series in charge we lost to the West Indies, then beat the West Indies and won the Ashes. I think there’s a nice progression, but there are areas we need to improve. This Test series gives us an opportunity to do that.”
England had to call up Tim Bresnan for his fellow Yorkshire allrounder Ajmal Shahzad, after the latter aggravated an ankle injury.
Strauss could breathe a sigh of relief after batsman Kevin Pietersen emerged unscathed when he fell over a football in warm-up at the start of a series in which the decision review system returns. Potential for controversy is perhaps augmented by the presence of DRS, because it is still a new toy to many players.
There are more pressing issues for Strauss and company, though, starting with how to defy a Pakistani bowling attack which saw off Australia for only 88 in helpful conditions in the first innings at Headingley last week.
The England captain concedes similar weather is likely to prevail, and therefore assist both teams’ pace attacks this week.
“It’s a ground where generally the ball swings around a bit,” he said. “It does depend quite a lot on the overhead conditions, but I think both bowling attacks are going to be looking at that and hoping to make early inroads.”