Strauss happy with knock by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	AJ Strauss
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 17th July 2009

 

England skipper Andrew Strauss hopes his unbeaten ton can inspire the rest of England's line-up to reach a competitive score.

 

He will resume the second day at Lord's unbeaten on 161 and has hit 22 boundaries during his six-hour stay at the crease.

 

Though the skipper played a brilliant knock but the team failed to build on a 196-run opening stand, England's highest against Australia at Lord's after eclipsing the 182 forged by Herbert Sutcliffe and Jack Hobbs in 1926.

 

Strauss though is hoping his efforts as captain can help England secure their first Lord's Test win over Australia since 1934.

 

"In terms of setting an example for the batsmen to go big when they get in, it was important," said Strauss, who has now claimed four centuries in just nine Tests since succeeding Kevin Pietersen as captain.

 

"Also, as a captain, you don't want to be scratching around not scoring runs because it adds more pressure when you don't really need more pressure. Andrew Strauss celebrates after scoring a ton

 

"It feels pretty good to have got those big runs and hopefully the rest of the guys will come out and put in some good performances with bat and ball in the remaining days."

 

England's score after the opening day is quite similar to their position in the first Test at Cardiff. Then they reached 336 for seven and ended up clinging on desperately for a draw on the last day.

 

But Strauss said the wicket at Lord's offers more encouragement for bowlers and this would give England a better chance of pressing home advantage if they record a competitive first-innings total.

 

"It's slightly disappointing to be six down from 196 for nought but there are more wicket-taking opportunities here than there were in Cardiff," he stressed.

 

"The ball swung around a little bit more and when it swung batting could get quite tricky but at the same time, in between that the opportunities to score were there.

 

"I think if we can get up to 450-odd then we're in a pretty good position in the game, but we'll probably have to bowl better than we did in Cardiff."