Strauss focused on Pakistan

England captain Andrew Strauss says that it would be dangerous for his players to have one eye on the Ashes during the upcoming Test series with Pakistan.

England begin the four-Test series at Trent Bridge on Thursday, their final competitive action in the longest form of the game before the winter clashes with Australia.

Many are therefore billing the home series as an indicator of their Ashes hopes, but Strauss has warned against the dangers of looking past Pakistan.

New skipper Salman Butt led his side to victory in the second Test against Australia, levelling the series to go with their Twenty20 domination of the Aussies on neutral ground.

And Strauss believes that England must concentrate on getting the better of a talented Pakistan outfit rather than thinking about preparing for the Ashes.
Challenge

"It's a big challenge," the opening batsman told Sky Sports News.

"We saw against Australia that the Pakistan side is dangerous one full of talent. They are used to conditions so was don't have that to surprise them.

"We are going to have to be at our best to win it and that's a good thing for us, not only ahead of the Ashes but generally because we want to play at our best and hopefully beat the best.

"In some ways it's a precursor because there's a lot of attention towards the Ashes and we can understand that.

"It's wrong to look at any series and look beyond it. All we can do is play well in the series, win the series and go from this series to Australia with a lot of confidence.

"To start looking at Australia at this stage is not helpful.

"We've been waiting for it for a little bit now, it's probably a step up from Bangladesh and that's what we need."

Change

England have been forced into a last-minute change of personnel for the first Test, with seamer Ajmal Shahzad being withdrawn as a precaution and Yorkshire team-mate Tim Bresnan receiving a call-up as a replacement.

Strauss is confident Shahzad will be fit for the second Test at Edgbaston and has also played down fears over the fitness of Kevin Pietersen, who took a fall during training.

"He's fine. He did go over on his ankle but I don't think it's anything too serious," the 33-year-old added of Pietersen.

Opposing skipper Butt is hoping that his side will carry the momentum of the successes against Australia into the Test series with England.

Pakistan's swing bowlers have excelled in overcast conditions and Butt thinks the conditions will continue to benefit his side at Trent Bridge.

He said: "I think it was a good win for a very young side and I hope they take the confidence (from it) but they don't take it to their heads and they keep on working hard and stick together as a unit.

"It's lovely weather, overcast again, it's going to help the bowlers."

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