Strauss confident of ODI revival in South Africa

Days after a resounding 6-1 beating at the hands of Australia, England arrived in South Africa for the Champions Trophy hoping not only to wipe the slate clean, but to begin turning around over a decade of ODI mediocrity.

England have lost 13 of their last 20 ODIs and their only wins have come against relatively weaker sides such as West Indies and Ireland. The run includes not only the Australia loss but a fierce 5-0 thumping at the hands of India at the end of last year. But the results are part of a much broader, longer trend of limited overs poverty and disenchantment with the format, stretching back arguably to the 1992 World Cup final, a period when England were last a formidable ODI side.

Andrew Strauss was upbeat, however, about his side's prospects not only in South Africa but in the longer run. Strauss believed a change of environment, and a variety of opponents, will help. "A change in environment can make a big difference actually," he said. "There is something quite exciting and intoxicating about world events, with all the world's best players. It's not difficult to be energised by that. It's not a long tournament, a bit of a sprint and quite exciting to know if you play well in three games you're in the semi-final. We can wipe the slate clean to be honest."

It will take some doing not only on current form but also without their two best ODI players. Both Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are injury casualties but Strauss believes the opportunity was there for others to step in. "Freddie and KP are two of our best ODI cricketers and whenever you lose that it's hard work. But Freddie has been out quite a lot recently and we are used to that and we've got to move on. KP is our best ODI batsmen but it's a chance for other guys to step up and make a name for themselves."

Strauss' own revival in ODIs - he averages over 40 in his last 14 games after a mid-career slump - will be key to any long-term improvement. "Our ODI cricket has been an ongoing concern for a number of years, decades rather than a few years. I'm excited about making strides in ODI cricket and having a real look at what we've been doing and how we can improve on what we can do in practice and the middle. It's a good project to be involved in. These things have to happen and it will take a bit of time to happen. In the meantime I maintain we are capable of beating anyone."

And whatever is to happen will happen mostly with the current crop of players. There will be no wholesale cull, insisted Strauss. "That's not helpful. These are the guys who have performed consistently in domestic limited overs cricket. There is an incentive to think there is a magic cure lurking somewhere in the counties but the reality is that the cure lies within the group of players and how we approach our cricket. I've got a lot of faith in the players we have."