Ashes 2015: Andrew Strauss warns Alastair Cook there will be no special treatment if England lose Ashes

 
Pressure Cooker: Strauss warns England captain
CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 06: England captain Alastair Cook and James Anderson look on during a Royal visit ahead of the 1st Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at SWALEC Stadium on July 6, 2015 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Fo
Tom Collomosse8 July 2015

Andrew Strauss has warned Alastair Cook there will be “question marks” against his leadership if England lose the Ashes.

The series began here today with Cook’s side underdogs after Australia claimed a 5-0 whitewash in the 2013-14 series Down Under 18 months ago.

Cook (right) succeeded Strauss as captain in 2012 but his former opening partner is now his boss, after Strauss was appointed England director of cricket earlier this year.

The pair remain close but Strauss will not offer guarantees about Cook’s future, with the 29-year-old expected to step down if the Aussies prevail.

“Any time you captain your country in an Ashes series, the pressure is heightened to a certain degree,” said Strauss, who led England to the Ashes in 2009 and 2010-11. “You either come out feeling like you’re a hero or there are going to be question marks and recriminations.

“This is no different for Alastair Cook. He has been there and done it, he has been an Ashes-winning captain in 2013 and knows what it takes, and he knows the importance of playing the Ashes at home.

“There are a lot of things in his favour: he is in great form with the bat and he can’t wait to get started. He is looking forward to doing what he does best — scoring runs. As an England cricketer you are judged on how you do in Ashes series. It’s a big deal for the players, it is different, but that’s also what makes it incredibly exciting. This is your chance to make your name on English cricket.”

Strauss also believes England, who chose to bat in the opening Test at Cardiff after winning the toss and selected the same side that lost their last Test, against New Zealand at Headingley, have a better chance of victory if they avoid slanging matches with the Aussies.Both sides have promised publicly that they will tone down their verbal aggression and captains Cook and Michael Clarke have been reminded of their responsibilities.

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Strauss said: “In my experience, England sides who have played well in the Ashes have done so by controlling their emotions well. If you get caught up in a mudslinging match with an opposition player then you’re not controlling your emotions.

“I don’t think England are looking to sledge the Australians. I think they are looking to be aggressive in the way they play rather than in what they say to the opposition and if they do that they will give themselves the best chance of winning.”

England are chasing their fourth consecutive Ashes win on home soil. Their last, the 3-0 triumph in 2013, was received with little enthusiasm.

England are expected to play more attacking cricket this summer and Strauss told the BBC: “You can’t be affected by what people are saying. If you have a philosophy on how you think you can win you have stay true to it right to the end.”

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