Strauss: 'Australia is the big mental test'

Marcus Trescothick: flew out of Sydney early on Tuesday © Getty Images

Andrew Strauss has given an insight into the stresses that have caused Marcus Trescothick to fly home from the Ashes tour, and says that playing against Australia is the biggest mental test a player can face.

Interviewed in the December edition of The Wisden Cricketer, Strauss said: "You are tested more in an Ashes series than in any other because Australia are the best team in the world.

"The most important thing is to enjoy the challenge, enjoy taking these guys on and think of the upside: 'I might get a hundred here; think how great that'll be.' It's about becoming psychologically mature."

Trescothick's departure, just nine days before the start of the Brisbane Test, may have rattled England's confidence, but Strauss believes that Australia will be under intense pressure from their home crowds when the series begins.

"I think Australia are going to be very up for this and that could enable them either to play out of their skins, or not as well as they'd like to, because of the expectation and wanting it too badly," he said. "We believe we know how to beat Australia but we'll have to play exceptionally well to do it."

After narrowly missing out to Andrew Flintoff for the captain's job in Australia, Strauss says he retains the desire to lead his country: "I still harbour ambitions of captaining England and whether that happens soon or in a while or never at all, I still have that ambition. But right at this time it's not significant to me. Fred leads from the front and I will do everything I can to help him. If I've got suggestions and feel I can contribute, I will do."

Away from the intensity of an Ashes battle, Strauss is clearly an enthusiastic tourist in every sense of the word. Married to an Australian, he is relishing the experience of touring the country, particularly Sydney, the venue for the final Test at the start of January.

"I love Australia, I absolutely adore the place," he tells the magazine. "Sydney without a doubt is my favourite city. It's got everything you might want. It's a perfect holiday destination with the beaches and the great climate. There's a real atmosphere about the city and some great golf courses."

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