‘In your face’ tactics won’t concern us, warns Strauss
ANDREW STRAUSS has told his players to let their cricket do the talking while ignoring South Africa’s “in your face” tactics.
The England captain has history against the Proteas and is fully expecting another series of confrontation and controversy this winter.
Strauss leads his side out for the first of a five-match one-day series in Johannesburg this afternoon, looking to maintain a run of five straight victories against the Proteas.
The tie will naturally bring back memories of the last 50-over encounter between the two sides when Strauss was dragged into in a war of words with his South African counterpart Graeme Smith when choosing not to allow him a runner in the Champions Trophy.
Smith later implied the decision could come back to haunt Strauss, but the England captain is refusing to be drawn into the debate and has warned his side to be on their guard.
“There has been quite a lot said, but not much by me,” Strauss said. “South Africa-England games are always competitive; the cricket is always aggressive and in your face. When you come to South Africa, you expect this – we’ve seen this before, so none of it particularly surprises me.
“All I would say is we’ve tried not to come out with big comments about the opposition – because as we all know, the world is round and these things can come back to haunt you at some stage. I think we’re all excited to get out there on the pitch and let the bats do the talking.”
England yesterday called up Kent off-spinner James Tredwell to the squad after Graeme Swann was ruled out for the opening two matches with a side strain.
James Anderson, Paul Collingwood, Graham Onions and Alastair Cook all undergo fitness tests this morning with Collingwood looking to make his 171st one-day appearance for England – breaking the previous record set by Alec Stewart.