Strauss said England would not target any members of the
Australian team, including struggling captain Ricky Ponting, when the series
begins with the first Test Nov. 25 in Brisbane. England holds the Ashes after a
2-1 series win in England last year.
“I don't know what his (Ponting's) state of mind is but one
thing I do know is we're not in the business of targeting opposition players,”
Strauss said. “My past experience is that if you say too much about opposition
teams, it can come back and haunt you.” “We expect Australia to be very strong.
Their record here is very good. When you're out here, you can't afford any
passengers in your side, so you need all 11 to be performing and standing up at
the right time.” Strauss' comments were in contrast to the ones made several
days earlier when the team left England.
“I'm not sure about not being able to say hello to them, but
until the end of that fifth test there's two sides at war with each other,”
Strauss said in London. “Both sides know that at the end of the series there's
going to be 11 guys feted as heroes and 11 guys who failed in their task.
Until that final test is over there's no point being too
hunky-dory or friendly with the opposition. Our task is to go out there and try
to beat them.” Australia has slipped one spot below England to fifth in the ICC
test rankings but England has not taken a series Down Under since 1986-87 and
has won just three of its last 26 Ashes Tests in Australia - all when the
outcome had already been decided.
Strauss said on arrival Saturday that England was mentally
and physical ready for the series.
“I said in London there's a relaxed excitement about the
group,” he said. “Now that we've touched down and are on Australian soil,
everything's a bit more at the forefront of our minds about what lies ahead of
us, what massive opportunities there are and also how determined we are to come
out here and play well.”
