Strauss confident of credentials

Andrew Strauss awaits the selectors' captaincy decision confident he could have done no more to convince them he is the man to lead England into this winter's Ashes series.

The Middlesex batsman will find out in the next day whether he or Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been chosen to lead England against Australia, with both having successfully skippered the side over the last year. Strauss has emerged as favourite because of his recent success against Pakistan, but insisted his recent success should not decide the choice of captain.

"I don't think winning these two games should have any bearing on the captaincy whatsoever," he said. "I've been captaining the side since May/June time so I think they've got a fair idea about what sort of captain I am and likewise with Fred."

He added: "The next couple of days are an important time for the selectors to gather their thoughts and decide who is the best man for the job.

"I'd love to do the job in Australia if asked, but it's for other people to decide who is the best to lead that side. The selectors have got to make a decision in the next day or two and from there it's a question of focusing on the Ashes.

"Whoever is captain, it is about a squad going out there willing to compete and really wanting to do well out there and I think we're all really excited about it."