Strauss - We must improve

Strauss (L): New approach

We've got to improve in a lot of areas quite substantially before the World Cup.

Andrew Strauss
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England captain Andrew Strauss has revealed that he and his coaching staff already have "half-an-eye" on the 2011 World Cup.

England have never won the 50-over showpiece, however their recent series win in South Africa has reignited belief that the drought might end on the Subcontinent.

There has been a noticeable change in attitude since coach Andy Flower and Strauss took charge of the one-day side in April.

The mindset has mainly been characterised by shot-making intent from the likes of Strauss himself, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright and Paul Collingwood.

While Strauss is unsure England's bowling attack has the firepower to bowl other teams out regularly, he is confident the power hitting at his disposal will serve them especially well in host nations India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Trounced

Before they head there in 14 months' time, England have the opportunity to acclimatise to the Asian conditions in Bangladesh this winter.

Asked whether England's new tactics will travel well, Strauss said: "I think it's a brand of cricket you probably have to play in a World Cup on the Subcontinent.

"With the old school 'let's leave wickets in hand for the last 10 overs', you see other sides go out right from the start.

"We've got half-an-eye on that World Cup, and that is part of what we're trying to achieve - to get the fundamentals in place to allow us to be competitive then."

Strauss does concede however that England, trounced 6-1 at home by Australia less than three months ago, still have much to prove.

"I'm not going to say we are there yet - in fact, we're a long way from where we want to be," he admits.

"We've got to improve in a lot of areas quite substantially before the World Cup."

That will start in earnest in Bangladesh early next year, but it is not yet clear whether or not some senior players - Strauss among them - may be rested.

"We want to keep this group together as much as possible over the next 12 months," the captain said.

Improved

"The last thing you want is chopping and changing close to a World Cup.

"Whether it is the full team or not that plays in Bangladesh, ultimately we don't want to be making too many changes."

Meanwhile, Strauss' opposite number Graeme Smith has had to come to terms with losing his first home ODI series as captain.

That did not stop him giving England, who have joined Australia as the only other nation to win a ODI series in South Africa, due credit - and voicing an honest appraisal of their likely World Cup prospects.

"I think their one-day cricket has definitely improved - they've played a lot better cricket in this format than us," said Smith.

"Andrew and (coach) Andy (Flower) have surrounded themselves with players they think they can back.

"But there will be different challenges going to the sub-continent for the World Cup that all of us are going to have to face and adapt to."