Cricket world cup: Andrew Strauss hopes unity and resolve can help England sink Sri Lanka

Andrew Strauss' England prize their resolve and togetherness above all and are hoping those qualities will again help them prevail when the stakes are high against Sri Lanka today.

Strauss must solve a string of tactical permutations for England's World Cup quarter-final - but was also moved yesterday to voice his team's collective displeasure at Geoff Boycott's insensitive reaction to Michael Yardy's battle with depression.

The left-arm spinner had to fly home on Thursday after accepting he could no longer give his best in his current fragile frame of mind. Strauss became the latest of many to pledge their support for Yardy - in contrast to former England opener Boycott, who responded to the 30-year-old's departure by claiming he is not a sufficiently talented cricketer to have been selected for this tournament in the first place.

Boycott's remarks have found little favour with anyone, it seems, and Strauss made it clear England are unimpressed, too. "I think it just showed a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue," he said. "To link it (Yardy's illness] in any way to how he has performed in the World Cup is a long way wide of the mark. We were disappointed with those comments. It's a just a lack of being informed about the situation."

Strauss is at pains to make the distinction between depression and the stress inevitably felt by many cricketers when they have to spend so much of their lives away from home. It is feasible that the latter may have made Yardy's difficulties harder to bear, however, and Strauss acknowledges that touring is unlikely to get any easier for anyone with the passing of years.

"There are significant pressures, and I suppose as you get older and a lot of us have kids that makes touring harder," he said.

Strauss' immediate challenge, of course, is to make sure his team are not unsettled by the circumstances of Yardy's return home. But he must also ensure he and coach Andy Flower pick the right team for the day-night encounter at the Premadasa Stadium.

It has been unclear, ever since England narrowly beat West Indies more than a week ago to scrape into the last eight, who will open the innings with Strauss. He confirmed that conundrum at least has been cracked but, as is routine England policy, was not about to show his hand by announcing whether Matt Prior will stay at the top of the order or Ian Bell or Ravi Bopara will be promoted. Instead, asked whether his first-wicket partner has already been told the score, Strauss said: "Yes, he does know now - he has known for a couple of days."

England's significant selection issue is the make-up of their bowling attack.Uncertainty about a pitch relaid since England's last tour means they could yet pick three specialist seamers, to accompany off-spinners Graeme Swann and James Tredwell, or use the part-time medium-pace of such as Bopara, Luke Wright and Jonathan Trott to complete the 50 overs.

James Anderson's recovery from apparent exhaustion - he was dropped last week after an arduous winter - Chris Tremlett's form, Tim Bresnan's fitness after more calf trouble and the readiness of potential debutant Jade Dernbach are other variables.

The loss of Yardy means four first-choice players are now back in England, having succumbed to injury or illness since the start of this tournament. Strauss, however, has no doubt those remaining can rise to the challenge.

"We have shown a lot of resolve; we have shown we're able to stick together in close encounter," he said. "You never know what this game is going to throw up at you, and you've got to be quick enough to adapt to whatever comes your way. We have got to play good, smart, intelligent cricket and ask questions of the opposition." Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, meanwhile, rates England one of the World Cup's best teams - but still expects Muttiah Muralitharan to have a major say against them.

Murali, 39 next month, will call time on his record-breaking international career at the end of Sri Lanka's campaign in this tournament. That, of course, will be today if England upset the odds against the co-hosts. Sangakkara acknowledges England's capabilities, despite their rocky progression into the last eight, but believes master off-spinner Murali - fit after a hamstring injury - will be up to the task too.

"He's a guy who rises to the occasion and does really well in big games," said Sangakkara. "The side is very confident about what he can produce for us in the important matches."

Asked whether Murali's impending retirement may provide an extra edge, he said: "I think it will. But that kind of thinking goes out of the window when you cross the boundary rope. All the guys focus on is playing well in that moment and staying in the present."