Strauss ‘not even close’ to being tired of role

Andrew Strauss insists he is “not even close” to having had enough of the England captaincy, despite his long and vain search for his 20th Test century.

Strauss has made just one hundred in his last 49 Test innings – 18 months ago in Brisbane at the start of the 2010/11 Ashes.

On the eve of the first Investec Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, opener Strauss made it clear he plans to be England captain for the foreseeable future.

Asked if he has ever felt fed-up of the job, he said: “Not even close. There may be a situation where that has happened to England captains in the past – and maybe it will to me in the future – but I’m not there at the moment.

“I’m excited about the challenges ahead, to come out at Lord’s again, and I’m hoping we will all show what we’re capable of this summer.”

West Indies captain Darren Sammy also has his critics. When he was asked about the possibility of targeting Strauss today, he spoke up for his opposite number.

“I don’t think it’s the first time he has been under pressure, and he’s responded quite well in the past,” he said. “Pressure could make you crumble, pressure could make you rise above your expectations and I know Strauss is a strong guy mentally.”

The West Indies team have an argument to settle – which one of them will put his name on the Lord’s honours board first. Sammy announced that all his pace attack should be fit after various niggling injuries, hand each is intent on beating the others to a five-wicket haul against the No 1-ranked test team.

Sammy said: “We left the Caribbean knowing it’s going to be a very difficult challenge but we also know that, if we can play well and put runs on the board, we back our bowling attack to get 20 wickets and win a Test.”

The West Indies’ batting, which – world No 1 one Shivnarine Chanderpaul apart – is very inexperienced, is thought likely to struggle against James Anderson and Co in early-season English conditions.

The counter-balance is an attack led by Kemar Roach, recovered from a twisted ankle and fellow seamers Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul.

“Kemar said nothing is going to stop him playing at Lord’s, and that is the attitude of all the players,” said Sammy.

“They all want to play at the home of cricket and they will put everything aside to play for the West Indies.

“There’s been a lot of discussion in the dressing room about who’s going to put their name on the [honours] board.

“Kemar said he’s going to be the first one, Ravi said it’s going be him and I myself think it’s going to be me as well.”

Fourth seamer Sammy also has the outside possibility of a maiden Test hundred at No 8 to get his name etched in history.

Darren Bravo, and Chanderpaul are the men most likely to reach three figures and the captain added: “Bravo is itching to get his name on the board, and the young players as well.

“There’s a lot of inspiration that can be taken from Lord’s – it’s the spiritual place of cricket so we hope magical things can happen for us.”

Sammy’s young team have hinted at potential – in their recent 2-0 defeat at home to Australia, for example – but nt yet managed to consolidate a good position.

“It’s about getting victories under our belt, and that is something that will come when we play more together and believe even more in ourselves,” he said.

Runs from Chanderpaul will help – all the more so if the left-hander can be persuaded to move up the order and keep his team competitive when the ball is still new. Sammy added: “It’s something we’ve spoken about with Shiv as well, but he’s been doing a fantastic job at number five. At the end of the day, we’ll do what’s best for the team.

The West Indies would be a very different proposition if Chris Gayle and other Indian Premier League recruits had instead made themselves available .

But Sammy said: “I’m not really frustrated by who’s here and who’s not. They are young; everybody is learning on the job. “We expect some of those guys will make mistakes, and it’s how quickly you learn.”