Strauss calls for a consistent England

Strauss said that playing against a team of India8217;s calibre would give England a chance to know their strengths before the 2007 World Cup.

8220;It seems strange that I am one of the oldest member of the team. But it also shows that there is so much talent with young players coming in and doing well. It8217;s a good sign for English cricket, what we are aiming now is consistency, which has been lacking,8221; he said.

England may have won more matches than India in the 51 encounters between the two teams. But they have not won any major tournament in the limited version of the game. A drubbing by Pakistan before the series against India has only exposed English limitations in the one-dayers.

8220;Guys who came in the Test series have done well and now there are some new players in the one-day side. The one-dayers will provide opportunity to newcomers to stake their claim,8221; Strauss added.

On Andrew Flintoff8217;s captaincy, he said, 8220;He has done a fantastic job. He did not get enough time to prepare for the job but he was inspirational and led from the front and all the boys supported him.8221;
Back home, loyalties shift
A fickle British media seems to have shifted loyalties, insinuating in write-ups that injured Michael Vaughan be replaced by charismatic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff as England8217;s one-day skipper.
Just as Nasser Hussain chose to hand over the job to Vaughan at just the right moment, it might be time for Vaughan to step aside for Flintoff8230; There is only one way to start and that is with Andrew Flintoff. He dominated the Test series, proving himself to be a natural captain.
8212; The Observer
A decision to replace Vaughan could come as early as next month depending on how Flintoff, fares as a stand-in leader in the seven one-dayers starting on Tuesday.
8212; Sunday Times