Self-improved Strauss leads by example

Self-help guides are all the rage: how to quit smoking, how to drink less, how to eat better. If Andrew Strauss' philosophy as England captain pans out successfully over the next 11 weeks in the Caribbean he could bring out his own title - How To Make Yourself A Better England Player.

The day before the squad departed for West Indies, and just two weeks after the dramatic double departure of Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores, Strauss laid out his plan for the future. It wasn't quite in the Barack Obama league of oratory - and certainly wasn't watched by a crowd of millions - but in its own way marked the transition from one leader to another. Basically, Strauss has told his players to take responsibility for their own success and failure.

The last time Strauss spoke to a full room of journalists was 24 hours after accepting the captaincy. Fourteen days on, he has been able to absorb the challenges that lie ahead and begin laying some plans. It has long been commented that England travel with an entourage almost as big as the playing staff, and ever since Duncan Fletcher's infamous "bubble" burst, that has manifested itself as a comfort zone in which players have lost the ability to think for themselves. Strauss is going to trust his charges to know their own requirements, but in return he clearly wants a realisation that it is down to the individuals to make the most of themselves.

Strauss can lead by example. He had to go away and almost reinvent his game after being left out against Sri Lanka. He is one of the few players in the current team to have had the benefit - if that is right term - of being dropped and being able to look in on the team from the outside. It is often easier to see problems when you aren't involved in them. Without quite saying that he has been formulating his captaincy plan for years, he did say it was something he had given a lot of thought to.

Partly Strauss' outlook is helped by the current, ad-hoc, set-up on the support staff. There is no head coach - Andy Flower has taken on the responsibility without the title. He and Strauss will pick the team, with some input from the on-tour selector, but it is down to the players to use the coaches the way they feel is best for their game.

When Strauss was handed the job earlier this month there was a general consensus that, by default, England may just have found the right man for the job. It is worth remembering Strauss has never lost a Test as captain, and has seemingly managed to bring the best out of Monty Panesar, a player who has failed to progress under recent captains and coaches. Some say Panesar struggles to think for himself - witness the captain always setting the field - so it will be fascinating to see how Strauss' relationship with him works, if Panesar makes the team.

The contrast with the man he has replaced could not be starker. There were no brash comments, no chest-pumping emotion and no declarations of love. One of Pietersen's early misjudgments was to try and win everyone over with extravagent statements. For example, Pietersen said of Steve Harmison: "I'm definitely going to get the best out of him." Strauss was more measured: "I'm quite happy with what he's said to me in terms of how he's going to get there." It's a subtle, but important, difference. Strauss has put the onus on Harmison to be the best he can.

But if anyone thinks he will be a diffident captain, there is plenty of steel and determination behind the calm and measured exterior. Already he has made small moves to make sure the squad knows that this is a new start (another one) and they will do things his way. In many ways he has even more of a carte blanche role without a head coach in position.

One of his first decisions has been the make-up of the two management teams that will be in place during the tour. The most notable factor is the absence of Pietersen from the Test panel (although he returns for the one-day leg), as Strauss favours Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff from his senior men and also believes it's important to give younger players some responsibility. As soon as Strauss revealed that Pietersen wasn't in the chosen four it was inevitable that it would be pounced upon. Is he being punished? Is he ready to play again? Are you worried he will be a divisive influence?

It is a strong statement from Strauss and can be taken in two ways. Pietersen, as Strauss explained, is being given a chance to ease back into the set-up after his rapid demotion - although he seemed anything but stressed while milling around the hotel lobby - and it is also an indication of Strauss' desire to move on. It also puts Pietersen far enough away from the off-field decision-making that there shouldn't be a blurring of lines between the former and current captain.

On the field, though, Strauss has said he will be quick to pick Pietersen's brains. Within the ethos of thinking for oneself, Pietersen is actually already top of that list. No England player is as independently minded, but now Strauss wants others to form their own identity.

Of course this has been a far-from-ideal transition for Strauss, but of all the tours to be embarking on in the current situation a trip to the West Indies is just about ideal. The opposition are good enough to provide some uncomfortable moments (and maybe nick a Test) but in the final outcome England should still win, at least in the longer format. The Caribbean is also a region that England cricketers enjoy touring (except when $20million is at stake) and Strauss shouldn't have to worry about frustrated players who have been locked up in their hotels for days on end. It might sound a trivial point, but a major criticism of recent England trips - even to somewhere as laidback as New Zealand - is that there has quickly been a siege mentality.

Although the players have tried to paint a picture of a happy dressing room, it has become clear that all has not been right for some time. Success breeds happiness and happiness breeds success. If Strauss can crack one of them, the other should follow. Now is the time to build bridges, forge bonds, and most importantly, win cricket matches.

As Strauss was talking to the media - answering questions ranging from Pietersen to the IPL to central contracts and even who he will be having dinner with on tour - the rest of the team filed into the team hotel. He has managed one full get-together with the squad, where he led a 45-minute meeting to lay down the law and allow anyone to have their say. That was the moment when everyone, finally, had to move on from recent events. The only baggage Strauss wants on flight VS29 to Barbados is the truckload of cricket kit that the team are checking in with them.