Jubilant England aim for the top

Strauss said England’s Ashes-winning heroes have yet to reach their peak following their thrashing to Australia.

SYDNEY: England captain Andrew Strauss said England’s Ashes-winning heroes have yet to reach their peak following their emphatic 3-1 series thrashing to Australia.

Success Down Under has raised hopes that England, ranked third in the world, can challenge for the number one spot, held by India at the moment.

“It is a very good achievement to come out here and win,” said Strauss. “But the majority of the team is going to be hitting their peak in the next couple of years. People will now have high expectations of us, and we’re going to have to work very hard to live up to them. But we’re as confident as I’ve ever seen in an England team.”

Defeat with an end-of-era feel

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson sounded awe-struck as he provided a comparative study.

“There’s no doubt India have got an unbelievably balanced team. But the way the English have played in all facets has been very impressive.”

Stand-in captain Michael Clarke went to the extent of saying Australia needed to learn from England. “I think 100 per cent we have to learn from England. Their performance, not only with bat and ball, but in the field, was outstanding.”

Australia’s defeat had a distinctly end-of-era feel to it. No longer able to rely on its golden generation after a decade and half of domination, Australia now grapple with a tricky transition period and a real shortage of talent.

Rebuilding Australian cricket

Former Test captain Steve Waugh said he was not interested in a coaching role but wanted to play a part in rebuilding Australian cricket. Waugh dismissed any chance of taking over as coach but was keen to do what he could to help get Australia back to the top.

“I love Australian cricket. I want to see it be successful but my value is more of a mentor. I certainly would like to help on the sidelines.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2011.