Our batting problems can turn cancerous: Strauss by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	AJ Strauss
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 13th September 2009

 

England skipper Andrew Strauss continued to lament on his side's batting weaknesses following confirmation of the ODI series defeat to Australia.

 

England were completely outplayed by Australia at Lord's, by seven wickets and with 38 balls unused, to go 4-0 down.

 

Once again it was their poor show with the bat, combined this time with a ferocious fast-bowling display from five-wicket Brett Lee, which shaped the result.

 

"The cancer, the thing that you really want to avoid, is getting more and more negative and more and more hesitant because that is not going to get you anywhere," warned Strauss, following an 11th one-day defeat to Australia in 14 contests.

 

"Ultimately it is about putting yourself in the game situation and doing what is right for the team. We haven't done that well enough so far.

 

"A few of the guys are low on confidence at the moment and one-day cricket is not a game in which you can scratch around for too long.

 

"You have to play in a positive fashion. We have had some telling partnerships but no telling scores, so the batting group has to be better, simple as that."

 

"When one side gets on top and one lacks in confidence that can happen," said Strauss.

 

"There are three more games to try to build some momentum towards the Champions Trophy.

 

"The batsmen at some stage will come right - I have a lot of confidence in the batsmen we have got - hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

"In one-day cricket hundreds are the difference between getting a total which is very hard to chase and one that's attainable. We haven't done that as well as we should have done."