Andrew Strauss has seen the hunger he wants from his England team for this Ashes summer in their 2-0 Wisden Trophy dismissal of West Indies.
Andrew Strauss has seen the "hunger" he wants from his England team for this Ashes summer in their 2-0 Wisden Trophy dismissal of West Indies.
England wasted little time at the Riverside regaining, both in style and in record time, the Trophy they lost in the Caribbean last winter.
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England players celebrate after defeating West Indies in the second Test at Chester-le-Street in Durham yesterday. |
James Anderson's match haul of nine for 125 hurried the hosts to victory over West Indies in the second Test by an innings and 83 runs yesterday.
Strauss is now enthused, with the challenge to be posed by Australia in mind, by the attitude of his team both in preparation and deed.
"The real challenge for anyone captaining a side is to try and get that extra two or three per cent out of a team, which could be the difference between winning or losing a big series," he said.
"If you look at the way the guys are practising at the moment, there's a real hunger to improve and we need to cultivate that and make sure it grows and grows."
Strauss always sensed he had the right players to help him turn things around but is nonetheless delighted the team have responded so successfully under him and new coach Andy Flower.
"Things settled down pretty quickly after the upheaval, which is very encouraging, because it means the players themselves are committed to playing for England.
"There are no hang-ups or ego problems, or anything like that.
"I think that's really encouraging, and it shows our priorities are right as a side. The talent has always been there u2014 and it will continue to be there."
