Search:



The Web

Rediff








 Latest Cricket news on mobile: sms CRI to 7333

Home > Cricket > England's tour of India > PTI > Report


We would have batted first: Strauss

March 18, 2006 19:31 IST

Centurion Andrew Strauss [Images] rubbed salt on India's wounds by saying that England [Images] would have any way batted first had captain Andrew Flintoff [Images] won the toss in the third and final Test in Mumbai on Saturday.

"We had decided to bat first if we had won the toss," said the opener after scoring a splendid 128 in England's close of play first innings score of 272 for three wickets.

Indian skipper Rahul Dravid [Images] surprisingly asked England to bat first after winning the toss in his 100th Test.

Strauss said he was happy to put behind his indifferent form in the series and get a three-figure knock in India, which he felt was a "tough ask".

"I was going through a bad patch. I am glad to come out of it and get into three figures in India. It's always difficult to play in the sub-continent," the 29-year-old Johannesburg-born player said.

The Middlesex opener, who made an elegant 128 in five and a half hours, said it was crucial to hang in there without being dismissed in the first hour and he was lucky to do so.

"The first hour was going to be crucial. I was lucky to be there at the end of it," he said.

Asked about the behaviour of the wicket at the Wankhede Stadium, Strauss who faced 240 balls and struck 17 fours and a pulled six - said there seemed to be more bounce than turn on it on the opening day.

"It had more bounce than turn towards the end of the day," he added.


Englands's tour of India: The Complete Coverage

Would you like to join the Cricket and Cricket Lovers Discussion Group and discuss your cricket views with other cricket freaks? Click here. Have fun!


7333: The Latest News on Your Mobile!
© Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.





Article Tools
Email this article
Top emailed links
Print this article
Contact the editors
Discuss this article