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Strauss - Feeling confident

It's exciting that quite a few of our players play well against quick bowling.

Strauss on first Test
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England v South Africa
First Test, Lord's, July 10-14
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Andrew Strauss says England's batsmen will not be intimidated by South Africa's pace attack during the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.

After seeing off New Zealand 2-0 in a Test series earlier this summer, England now come up against the likes of Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn.

The first Test kicks off on Thursday morning from Lord's and Strauss says the team are looking forward to taking on the Proteas' pace attack.

The Middlesex batsman believes against South Africa's aggressive bowling England will have more chances to build a useful first innings total.

Different type

"Look, I think it's going to be a different type of cricket to the cricket we played against New Zealand," he told Sky Sports News.

"That was more an attritional type of cricket whereas the South African bowlers will go out there and will look to take wickets a little bit more.

"That provides problems, but that also provides opportunities. There will probably be more scoring opportunities.

"We're going to have to be on our game to take on those quick bowlers. There's no doubt about it.

"I think we're going into the series with our eyes open. I think we know what to expect. A lot of our practice will be tailored towards that.

"It's exciting that quite a few of our players play well against quick bowling. It's not something that intimidates. It excites us and we're looking to get out there on Thursday morning."

Focused

Should England win the first Test, it could be a double celebration in the Strauss household as his wife Ruth is due to give birth to their second child some time in the next week.

But despite recent precedents, Strauss intends to remain with England rather than make a dash across London to be at the birth should the news reach him of an impending arrival while he is in Test action.

"My wife is due some time during the Test match, the doctor doesn't feel it's going to come for a week or so but I won't be leaving the field or anything like that," he added.

"If I'm not batting I might nip off but if I'm on the field I'm concentrating on the cricket. I just feel that if I'm going to play the game I owe it to my team-mates to be focused on the game.

"My wife completely understands the situation and hopefully it will work out that she'll do it after the end of play or something like that - if I'm playing I've got to be switched onto the cricket."