Strauss sets England target as Bresnan replaces Shahzad

Strauss sees a potentially difficult four-match series against Salman Butt's tourists as an opportunity to continue a progression which began with last summer's wins over West Indies and then in the Ashes.

Anything but another success, over a developing team who have just drawn 1-1 against Australia themselves, would be a significantly inconvenient dent to England's hopes of retaining the urn Down Under for the first time in almost a quarter-of-a-century.

England's most recent Test assignment was a routine 2-0 win at home to Bangladesh, since when they have been involved in one-day international series before a mid-summer recess.

"We're not necessarily where we want to be, but I think we're making improvements," said Strauss ahead of today's Trent Bridge opener.

"My first series in charge we lost to the West Indies, then beat the West Indies and won the Ashes.

"I think there's a nice progression there – but there are areas we need to improve, no doubt about that. This Test series gives us an opportunity to do that."

England yesterday had to call up Tim Bresnan for his fellow Yorkshire all-rounder Ajmal Shahzad, after the latter aggravated an ankle injury.

If not required by England, Bresnan could be released to play in Yorkshire's Clydesdale Bank 40 League match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Strauss said Shahzad had been rested as a precaution and expects the right-armer to be fit to push for a place in team for the second Test at Birmingham next week.

"He did quite a lot of bowling yesterday. He was quite sore while bowling and the feeling was he wasn't quite ready to bowl in a Test match," Strauss added. "That's disappointing, he's gone away to undergo further treatment and we hope he'll be okay for the second Test.

"These things always depend on how the injury heals up, but there's no reason to expect at this stage that he won't be available for the second Test."

Kevin Pietersen almost suffered a scare of his own when he tripped over on a ball while warming up at Trent Bridge, but avoided serious injury.

"He's fine. He did go over on his ankle but I don't think it's anything too serious," Strauss added.