Strauss plans to build on Cook’s momentum against India

Strauss will return to lead England against the world’s No 1 Test team India on his home ground at Lord’s next week, in the first of four Tests.

He has spent the past two weeks as an interested spectator, having handed over the one-day captaincy to Cook following this year’s World Cup and seen the latter add NatWest Series victory over Sri Lanka to Strauss’s own Test success against those same opponents this summer.

India represent the prospect of even sterner opposition in both formats, but Strauss believes improving England will be up to the challenge.

“I thought they did a fantastic job,” he said of England’s limited-overs specialists, who completed a 3-2 series victory over the World Cup finalists at Old Trafford last weekend.

“Alastair Cook in particular was outstanding. To beat a good quality one-day outfit like Sri Lanka was a fantastic effort.”

Strauss has arranged to switch counties this week so that he can play for Somerset against India in the tourists’ only warm-up match before the first Test.

He is looking forward to that fixture, and making some runs in preparation for the still more important business which will follow.

“We’ve got some good momentum in this summer so far, two series wins,” he said at an event organised by England team sponsors Jaguar.

“The next two series are probably going to be a step up from that, in lots of ways, and a bigger challenge – but one we’re more than prepared to take on.”

As for his trip to Taunton to face India in a three-day match, he said: “I’ve got nothing to lose. I’d either be sitting around not playing any cricket or I’ve got a chance of getting a couple of innings and having a look at the Indian bowlers and spending time in the middle before this Test series.”

Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick will not renew his partnership with Strauss – the pair opened together in the victorious 2005 Ashes series – after being rested from the match against the Indians.

Somerset official Brian Rose said: “It is a long and taxing season for Marcus as a captain chasing success in three competitions.”

Walton CC will celebrate their centenary by staging a benefit match for Yorkshire wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy on Sunday, July 24 (1.30pm). Yorkshire hope to include Andrew Gale, Jonny Bairstow, Anthony McGrath, Joe Sayers, Joe Root and Rich Pyrah.