Shame drives Andrew Strauss

ENGLAND skipper Andrew Strauss insists the humiliation of our last Ashes thrashing is the driving force behind his bid to regain the priceless urn.

Australia won 5-0 two years ago, the first Ashes whitewash since 1921 and just 18 months after Michael Vaughan's side reclaimed them for the first time in 16 years.

Strauss played in both series. He was awarded an MBE for his heroics in 2005, but gained only hurt in 2007.

And the 32-year-old Middlesex batsman admitted: "To lose 5-0 in an Ashes series was humiliating and depressing. So that drives you and makes you very determined not to let it happen again.

"A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but to those of us who were there in 2005 and 2007, those were the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of emotions. And I know which one was better.

"They were, pretty much, my best and worst days in cricket. We've learned our lessons but if we need any more motivation, it's right there for us. We don't want to go through that again.

"You learn things from winning and from losing. In Australia last time we learned a huge amount about what it takes to win an Ashes series, probably more than we did in 2005.

"We're armed with those experiences and need to use them to make sure we have a better series this time."

Since the last two explosive encounters, Australian superstars Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist have retired.

And Strauss warns rival skipper Ricky Ponting's new breed of Aussies that England are up for a bloody fight when the First Test starts in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Aggression

Strauss added: "You have to be prepared to scrap and our players are certainly going to go blow-to-blow.

"There is a fine line between controlled aggression and aggression that goes over the top, so we have got to tread that line carefully.

"But anyone who goes in there and thinks: 'We are just going to stick to our game' is going to come unstuck.

"It is important, especially in the first couple of Tests. It is like the first rounds in a boxing match and it's important to grab the momentum early.

"We showed a lot of aggression in our last series against the West Indies and we've got some aggressive characters in the side.

"Bowlers Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson are both pretty aggressive. So, too, is Kevin Pietersen and in an Ashes series you've got to be prepared to play that type of cricket. You've got to take the game to them, be positive and back yourself.

"You've got to be in the Aussies' faces and make life difficult for them. The Ashes is bigger than any series I've captained England in before, but that is not something to be daunted by. It's an absolute dream to captain England, with 11 players dying to win back the Ashes. It's a great honour.

"We've learned that England doing well, at any sport, can bring the country together. But the only way we can do that is by winning."

The Aussies' famous five have been replaced by Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich and Brad Haddin.

But Strauss added: "At the moment, these replacements don't have that aura about them. Before, Warne and McGrath did all the talking. However, we are planning for a very tough series."

HUMBLED - England players feel the hurt of a 5-0 series whitewash in Australia in 2007, a hurt they aim to put right this time

Steve Harmison is likely to be named in a 13-man squad for the First Test. The Durham quickie was a massive influence when England won the Ashes in 2005, had a nightmare 18 months later but made Ponting's men suffer while playing for the England Lions last week with a haul of six Australian scalps.

Strauss said: "It is great to see him bowling with rhythm, hostility and aggression and it is nice to have selection headaches.

"There are a lot of options and the challenge for coach Andy Flower and me is to pick the right bowlers for the conditions we are going to face.

"But I like the balance in our attack. We've got swing bowlers, fast bowlers, a left-arm swinger, a leg-spinner, an off-spinner and a left-arm spinner.

"We've obviously got to pick the right 11 to go out on the pitch but I'm very encouraged by the choices I've got to work with."

Ah, yes, the pitch.

Amid huge controversy and for the first time in Ashes history, Wales will stage a Test match between cricket's two deadliest rivals.

Glamorgan's new £10million Swalec Stadium in the heart of Cardiff will host its debut Test and groundsman Keith Exton is under intense pressure to prepare the right wicket.

Ponting even sent a spy to Cardiff last week in a bid to examine the strip. Strauss confessed: "It's a risk to be playing at a ground that hasn't staged Test match cricket before, especially an Ashes Test. But we'll have to wait and see.

Atmosphere

"I haven't played at Cardiff for quite a long time. The reports are that the pitch has been turning but we won't be able to tell for sure until we get there.

"It will certainly be a fantastic atmosphere. The Welsh love their cricket and big sporting occasions, so maybe it's the perfect way to start the series."

Flower said: "It is surprising we are playing the First Test in Cardiff but it's exciting and nice to be part of history. I hope the conditions will suit us. Generally, it's a slower pitch and the Australians are used to quicker ones.

"We are thinking about playing two spinners but the conditions will have to be right."

England's top batsman Kevin Pietersen and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff are likely to hold the key to beating the Aussies. Their relationship with the skipper is vital.

Strauss took over as captain from KP and had to warn Flintoff about his boozing habits last week when the Lancashire superstar was fined £1,000 for missing the team bus following a late-night drinking session in Belgium.

Character

But Strauss declared: "Cricketers need to be treated like adults, not like kids. KP and I have always got on pretty well, so I've always found it easy to talk to him. But, above all, it took a lot of character from him to step back into the ranks and support me.

"There must have been part of him that thought: 'I still want to be in charge', so all credit to him for doing that.

"He's been a pleasure to captain and he's made what could have been a very tricky situation a lot more bearable.

"KP has a great record against Australia and we know what Freddie Flintoff did in 2005 but the teams which win the Ashes are those who get the most performances from all 11.

"Each of them has a responsibility to do their jobs properly and if we do that we have a really good chance."

First Test

England's squad for the opening npower Ashes Test against Australia, which starts in Cardiff on Wednesday:

AJ Strauss (Middlesex, capt) Age 32 Tests 61, AN Cook (Essex) 24 43, RS Bopara (Essex) 24 6, KP Pietersen (Hampshire) 29 52, PD Collingwood (Durham) 33 48, MJ Prior (Sussex, wkt) 27 18, A Flintoff (Lancashire) 31 74, SCJ Broad (Notinghamshire) 23 17, GP Swann (Nottinghamshire) 30 7, JM Anderson (Lancashire) 26 37, MS Panesar (Northamptonshire) 27 38, IR Bell (Warwickshire) 27 46, G Onions (Durham) 26 2.

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