Strauss can lord it as Aussies wait

Strauss, like most members of the home team, has failed to shine on the county circuit so far. But the 'Strauss flops again' headline of earlier this week could soon be replaced by 'Strauss tops again' if England's newly-crowned cricketer of the year lords it at Lord's like he did three times during the summer of 2004.

This Test, and the one that follows at Chester-le-Street, is not about cheap runs, easier than usual wickets and a couple more quick entries in the 'won' column, though.

It's much more to do with England starting the summer as they aim to go on: by playing tough and uncompromising cricket.

"We've got to be ruthless through these two Tests," said Steve Harmison-whose fast bowling was far too hot for Bangladesh to handle in Dhaka 18 months ago (nine for 79 in the match).

Even though Bangladesh have looked out of their depth since being prematurely promoted to the world of Test cricket in 2000, Strauss will do very well to light up Lord's quite so brightly as he did last summer.

But for Nasser Hussain's bad call a year ago, the Middlesex opener would, in all probability, have become the first England batsman to score twin hundreds on his Test debut.

Having settled for 112 and 83 against New Zealand, he took 137 off the West Indies on his return to Lord's in July. And he hit 100 there during a one-day international between those two Tests.

"I'm not treating it like my lucky ground because as soon as you think that way you can bet you are destined to be out for nought," said Strauss.

"But the whole atmosphere, aura and history of the place sends a shiver down my spine. Playing at the home of cricket is not going to get you runs or take you wickets, but all 22 players have a little bit more in them when they get onto that pitch."

Bangladesh can only hope the Lord's magic works for them, too.

They have some talented cricketers, without a doubt, and the most exciting yet could be 16-year-old reserve wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who seems certain to make his debut as a specialist middle-order batsman.

Their main problem to date has been a failure to turn good sessions into good days and promising individual performances into match-winning efforts.

England have been almost awash with match-winners over the past 18 months. Ian Bell, about to win a second cap nine months after being awarded his first, clearly has the class to be another gold star performer, wherever he bats in the middle order. But it's doing it against Australia that would turn this season of promise into one of perfection.

"It's a massive summer for English cricket and we're very excited," said Strauss. "The Ashes series is coming at a really good time for us: we need the challenge of playing and being tested against the best."

For the moment, though, Bangladesh stand in the way. But only for the moment.

Meanwhile, England will decide later today whether Ashley Giles is fit enough to play tomorrow.

Spinner Giles, who took 24 wickets in his first three championship matches for Warwickshire this season, has been struggling to recover from a hip injury.

Off-spinner Gareth Batty has been called up as cover and an all-pace attack, with Jon Lewis making his debut, is another option.