World Cup: Strauss denies poor ODI series has tainted Ashes victory

Strauss can't keep his eyes off the Ashes triumph

Andrew Strauss has refuted any notion that England’s woeful 6-1 defeat to Australia in the ODI series has tainted their Ashes triumph – and former ECB Chairman Lord MacLaurin has backed him up.

England left Australia today looking more like they’ve been in the wars than enjoying their right to brag – and they have the casualties to show for it. Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan all sustained injury during the series, and have left Strauss with a pounding selection headache ahead of this month’s World Cup. MacLaurin has pointed the finger at a “crazy” 100-day itinerary Down Under.

“Do you really want to go into seven ODIs when you've been at high-pitch Test cricket for a number of weeks, especially when they did supremely well?" He suggested to BBC Sport.

”I think it's a crazy itinerary. But I wouldn't worry about the one-day defeat, to be quite honest with you. I think the team needs a bit of a break, and I think they will do reasonably well at the World Cup.”
Strauss also defended the Ashes victory, and is hoping the poor ODI series will be set aside in retrospect.

He told the ECB website: “They are two different forms of the game and that Ashes victory was incredibly special and one that we'll savour forever.

“You talk to people out there and they say 'great tour' even though we just lost 6-1. We're disappointed with the one-day results but we'll get on to that plane, certainly those who were involved in the Ashes, and be very happy with what we've achieved.”

Ahead of the World Cup however, England were gifted some encouragement this week, with Swann confirming he will start bowling again on Tuesday to prove his fitness following a knee injury.

“I'm not fully fit but I'm getting there,” the spinner told BBC Radio 5 live. “I haven't had a bowl yet. I'll be doing that on Tuesday. I'm a little bit nervous about it but I should be fine.”

Bresnan has also declared himself fit for the tournament in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which begins for England in 15-days with a match against the Netherlands in Nagpur. But Morgan’s dream of a first World Cup tournament appears to be over, after confirming a broken finger.

Shane Watson was named Australia's Test and ODI player of the year at the Allan Border Medal night in Melbourne today.

Lyall Thomas

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