Strauss wants more tons

Strauss not satisfied with his overnight unbeaten score of 161

Strauss wants more tons

Strauss not satisfied with his overnight unbeaten score of 161

Smack that: England skipper Andrew Strauss smacks en route his 19th Test ton on Day One of the second Ashes Test at Lord's yesterday. pic/afp

Strauss, on his Middlesex home ground, made the most of some typically good batting conditions after winning the toss as England, with the series still level at 0-0 after last week's drawn opener in Cardiff, went in search of a first Test win over Australia at Lord's in 75 years.

But England, who had been 196 without loss after Strauss and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook (95) against a wayward Australia attack, let their advantage slip and finished the day on 364 for six.

"I enjoyed the partnership with Cookie, we got into the ascendancy but they came back well in the final session," Strauss told reporters. "It was a good day for England but a better day for me."

Very special
Asked how this innings compared to any of his other 18 Test hundreds, including three previous tons at Lord's, the 32-year-old Strauss said: "It's right up there. It's very special. Hopefully, I can go on, I feel I've got unfinished business."

England's collapse evoked memories of their performance in Cardiff when a first innings total of 435 was put into sharp relief by Australia's 674 for six declared in reply.

But Strauss said: "There are slightly more wicket-taking opportunities here than at Cardiff, If we can get up to 450-odd tomorrow (Friday), we will be in a good position in game, but we will have to bowl better than at Cardiff.

"We'll only know (how good England's total is) after the Aussies have had their first innings. But we can't be satisfied with where we are. We will have to push on tomorrow."

During the course of his innings, Strauss also crossed the 5,000-run mark.

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