England has work to do
07/28/2010 06:37:22 PM
in the ranks.
"I think we have got a fair amount of competition - both in the batting line-up now and with some bowlers champing at the bit to get in as well."
England knows its opponent's mercurial streak is likely to produce exciting cricket throughout, and Strauss can only hope that does not boil over into anything like the controversy he had to deal with in his first series as captain - in 2006 when Pakistan had to forfeit the Oval Test after being accused of ball-tampering and subsequently refusing to take the field.
"That series was all over-ridden by what happened at The Oval, with the match being forfeited in the end," he remembered.
"It was a bit of a baptism of fire for me.
"Let's hope this one is lively in a good way, rather than a bad way.
"I don't think either side want to be involved in anything particularly controversial - and let's hope that the case."