Strauss says Aussies will be massively motivated
(REUTERS) – Australia will be “massively motivated” to regain the Ashes when the five-match series starts next month, according to England captain Andrew Strauss.
The former world number ones have dropped to fifth in the rankings, one place below England, after suffering a 2-0 series defeat in India this month.
“To expect Australia to be any less competitive than they have been in every other series out here would be a bad way of playing things,” Strauss told reporters at Perth airport yesterday.
“We expect them to be very strong, very determined and clearly massively motivated to win back the Ashes and we are going to have to be good enough to overcome it.”
Key to England’s chances of keeping the Ashes — and improving on their 5-0 drubbing in Australia in 2007 — will be their bowling unit.
“One of the things I have liked about our bowling unit is they have kind of complemented each other quite well (recently),” said the 33-year-old Strauss who was also skipper when England won the Ashes on home soil last year.
“When it is turning, obviously Graeme Swann has been a great threat, when it is swinging Jimmy Anderson has been outstanding over the last 12 months and obviously on wickets which are a bit bouncy then Steven Finn and Stuart Broad have done a good job.”
Off-spinner Swann is ranked the world’s second best bowler while Anderson is also in the top 10, along with Australia’s Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger.
“I think it is that balance, to be able to adapt to different circumstances and situations in a game, that is more crucial than having one or two players having a great series,” added opening batsman Strauss.
Former opener Michael Vaughan notched 633 runs at an average of 63 in the 2002-03 series which England lost 4-1 Down Under and while Strauss would love to find that sort of form he would rather the entire team was on song.
“I hope I can be that outstanding opening batsman but actually I am not sure that’s the way to win here,” he said.
“I think when you are out here you can’t afford any passengers in your side so you need all 11 to be performing and standing up at the right time.”
The first Test in Brisbane starts on November 25.