Andrew Strauss warns of Australia Ashes backlash
Wednesday 15 July 2015 10:43, UK
England director of cricket Andrew Strauss is expecting a backlash from Australia in the second Investec Test at Lord's after they were outplayed in the first Ashes Test.
Michael Clarke's side were comprehensively outplayed in Cardiff - going down by 169 runs inside four days - but Strauss is not expecting it to be so easy the second time around.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "They are on the back foot and you know that is the time you have to be wary of Australia as they are going to come out all guns blazing and take the game to England. They are going to try and meet fire with fire.
"It's like anything, beware of the wounded animal. They will feel bitterly disappointed for having lost so comprehensively in Cardiff and they will be determined to make amends for it this week.
"England's challenge is to match their intensity and take the confidence they have gained from Cardiff and make sure they put together two good back-to-back performances.
"It is a massive Test match – the difference between 2-0 and 1-1 at the end of it is absolutely massive. I always thought we would be hard to beat at home. Home advantage counts for such an awful lot in Test cricket these days."
They are on the back foot and you know that is the time you have to be wary of Australia.
Strauss praised the leadership of Alastair Cook after England's success in Cardiff, saying the captain is still prepared to adapt after five years in the role.
He said: "The captain always looks better when you win a Test match and I thought it was one of his best matches as a captain. I thought he came up with some marvelous bowling changes and field positionings.
"I think he is at the stage of his career where he is excited by doing things a little differently and challenging himself. Seeing him the day before the first Test he had that twinkle in his eye – he was really up for it and I think we will see more of that over the summer."
The benign nature of the pitch in Cardiff came in for criticism from some quarters – notably from the tourists' camp – but Strauss has warned them not to expect a markedly different strip at Lord's.
He said: "If the Aussies think it is going to be something like the Perth wicket then I think they are going to be off the mark.
"I don't think it is going to be massively quick but I think it is going to be a fair Test-match wicket and it is going to be in line with the wickets that have been produced there in the past."
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