Strauss stands firm

Michael Vaughan was right: that win has to be very close to being one of his best as captain. I know the Old Trafford pitch eased up on the fourth day, but there was still something in it for the bowlers, so to get 294 was a huge effort. Monty Panesar bowled very well to set things up, and I'd like to congratulate Andrew Strauss on his century. He has not had an easy time of it in the past year, but it was a reminder that it's very difficult to find people of that character. I like to call them solid citizens.
When you have them, you must keep them, which is why I was surprised England did not take him to Sri Lanka. People said he needed a break, but last winter wasn't like the previous one where there was non-stop cricket. For a proud man like Strauss, it must have been a huge embarrassment to be dropped, and this innings should give him the confidence to have another long run in the side. Forget the fact that he doesn't always set the run-rate alight: every side needs its backbone, a Justin Langer or a Gary Kirsten.
I believe he did very little wrong in Australia 18 months ago, when the runs began to dry up. He would just get going then he would cop a rough decision, and that can eat away at you. But he always sticks at it, whereas some flair players just throw in the towel. With Strauss, there are no ifs. He has his methodology, his determination and he's a great man in the dressing room: intelligent, popular, and with a sharp line in banter if people try to take the mickey.
Strauss and Panesar, who bowled with beautiful control, were the obvious reasons England won this Test, but there were two other crucial moments that might have gone unnoticed. One was the partnership between Vaughan and Strauss on Monday morning. The first hour was very important, but they went out there, took control and sent a message to New Zealand that England were not rolling over.
The second moment was Stuart Broad's 30 in the first innings, when England were struggling to avoid the follow-on. Had they followed on, the wicket would still have been spicy and England would not have had the benefit of the heavy roller on day four. And by being positive, Broad made it look easy: the dressing room would have started to think, 'Hold on, we can do this'.
It was very noticeable that New Zealand don't like being the hotshot favourites. It's strange territory for them, and you could see it in their body language. On the third evening and fourth morning they were a different side, as if they didn't know how to handle the situation. You've got to learn how to win from the front, which can be trickier than people imagine.
If they hadn't lost Daniel Flynn, and if Jacob Oram had been fitter, they might have got another 40 or 50 runs and that could have made the difference. But part of their problem was that the Old Trafford wicket lost its bite, maybe because of the heavy roller. The spin was still there, but the pitch was slower in the fourth innings, so the batters had more time to adjust, especially off the back foot.
England did well to get themselves out of trouble, but I'd still like to see their bowlers assessing the situation a bit better. Why, for example, did it take them so long to bowl bouncers to New Zealand's openers on the first morning? Even when Ross Taylor was batting so well later on, they didn't push him on to the back foot enough. Sure, you don't want to get carried away with the bounce, but the bowlers still have to think on their feet more quickly.
It's sad for England that they won't be taking on Australia in Manchester next year, especially if the Aussies don't have a spinner. From a cricketing point of view it was always very enjoyable playing there because it suited our style of play, especially with Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison in the side.
But I can't believe a city the size of Manchester can't get the money to maintain a Test match and keep the ground and the stands up to date. The administrators there should have produced a proper cricket stadium, but now they won't be hosting a game until 2012 at the earliest. It's a real shame.
(Former England coach Duncan Fletcher wrote this piece for Guardian website).