Strauss upbeat
Andrew Strauss believes England are developing the battling qualities that will serve them well in their bid to retain the Ashes after they thrashed Pakistan by 354 runs in the first Test.
Victory, achieved with a more than a day to spare at Trent Bridge on Sunday, was ultimately crushing with Pakistan bowled out for 80 - their lowest Test score against England - in pursuit of what would have been a new world record fourth innings victory total of 435.
Pakistan had no answer to James Anderson, who once again revelled in the swing friendly conditions for a Test match-best return of 11 wickets for 71 runs -- including a second innings haul of six for 17.
However, there were moments when England's batsmen struggled against the likes of Pakistan pacemen Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul before going 1-0 up in a four-Test series that resumes at Edgbaston on Friday.
What really pleased England captain Strauss was the way Eoin Morgan, whose 130 was his maiden Test century, and Paul Collingwood, who made 82, put together a fifth-wicket stand of 219 that helped take the hosts to 354 in their first innings after they'd faltered at 118 for four.
Similarly, England were in trouble at 72 for five in their second innings before wicketkeeper Matt Prior bailed them out with an unbeaten 102.
"Test matches like this give me a lot of heart because of guys getting us out of trouble when we need them," said Strauss.
"If you want to be a top quality Test team, you need people to come out and get you out of trouble," added Strauss who is hoping to become the first England captain to win a Test series in Australia since Mike Gatting in 1986/87 during an Ashes defence which starts in November.
Strauss has now led England to three successive Test wins -- albeit the other two were at home to Bangladesh following a 2-0 series win away to the Tigers under stand-in skipper Alastair Cook earlier this year.
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