Outstanding work: Strauss

England skipper lauds the efforts of Pietersen, Broad, Anderson

“I think over the two innings that was as close to the perfect bowling performance we've had in the last two years and that is saying a lot because we have had a lot of exceptional performances,” Strauss remarked later. “It was an outstanding effort by the whole attack over five days,” he added.

Stuart Broad nearly took man of the match award from double centurion Kevin Pietersen with an excellent all-round show. The paceman’s place in the side was called into question but the 25-year-old turned up with seven wickets for the match and a crucial unbeaten 74 in the second innings.

“It was outstanding," Strauss said of Broad’s efforts. “When your place in the side is called into question it's a big test of character as much as anything. Stuart showed immense character over five days. He bowled very well and his second-innings 70 was crucial to the outcome of the game. He showed his class and it was a timely reminder to everyone of what a great talent he is," he observed.

The England skipper was also full of praise for the way Pietersen constructed his innings. “That first innings total was a magnificent performance and Kevin was mainly responsible for that,” he pointed out. “That was one of the great innings I’ve seen since being involved, in very difficult circumstances, he had to be smart in the way he played their seamers. He had to graft and then when we had the opportunity to attack, he attacked.
It was great that others could bat around him and we got through that tricky first day which was crucial,” he elaborated.

Due to India’s opposition, the Decision Review System doesn’t include lbw verdicts, which might have denied England wickets on two occasions. “Our line on this all the way through is that we prefer the full DRS to be used,” Strauss maintained. “We understand there’s a role for technology but you have to play by the rules you start the series with.
We’ve all played cricket in the past where you got on with the umpires’ judgement. You get some good ones, you get some bad ones. You just have to take it on the chin,” he opined.

England dropped five catches in the match and Strauss grassed two of them, including an offer from Sachin Tendulkar in the last innings. “You never want to drop Sachin. Thankfully Jimmy Anderson spared my blushes. It was always going to be tough for India to chase down those runs, and we were very fortunate we were able to trap him lbw shortly afterwards,” he felt.