Cricket: Remember the Ashes spirit, urges Strauss.

Byline: BY MYLES HODGSON Daily Post Correspondent

ANDREW STRAUSS hopes England can be inspired by last summer's Ashes experience at Old Trafford as they attempt to emerge from their slump on and off the pitch.

Long-term injuries to captain Michael Vaughan (knee), Ashley Giles (hip) and Simon Jones (knee) - and this week's news that key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be sidelined for three months after undergoing a second operation on his left ankle - have dominated England's summer.

The long list of casualties has also overshadowed England's failure to build any momentum since the Ashes win, so much so that Pakistan have moved ahead of them into second in the world Test rankings. But stand-in captain Strauss has called on his side to recall last year's dramatic drawn Test against Australia at Old Trafford, when more than 10,000 people were locked out on the final day as England failed by a wicket to secure a memorable win.

"If you need to draw on inspiration you only have to look back on that Test match," he said. "That fifth day with all those crowds outside who couldn't get into the ground and the atmosphere was quite incredible.

"It was a very good Test match wicket and hopefully the game will follow a similar pattern - only we can take that last wicket this time."

With time running out before they head to Australia for the return series, Strauss is well aware of the need for England to find their form sooner rather than later if they are to overcome Pakistan in the second npower Test at Manchester.

"The important thing is how we approach the Test match - how we go out there, how much effort and commitment we put in because these are the things that are going to make a difference between winning and losing," he explained.

"We saw last summer against the Aussies that if we all want it badly enough, we'll win and that's exactly what we've got to show this week and during the next three games.

"Because we've had a lot of problems off the pitch in terms of injuries it's been harder for us to go out and believe we're going to win every Test match.

"I think now we've come to terms with those injuries a little bit, we've moved forward and the guys who have come in have spent a little more time in the team now as well so there's no reason why they don't feel they can make a match-winning contribution.

"I think we've moved on from there, but we don't want to look too far ahead with the Ashes just around the corner. We need to make sure we do things very well for the rest of the summer and if we do that, the hunger and belief is going to serve us very well."

England's progress has been undermined by a constant changing of leadership with four separate captains - Marcus Trescothick, Vaughan, Flintoff and now Strauss - leading the side since the Ashes. That instability has not helped but with Flintoff now out for the remainder of the summer and Strauss appointed to the end of this series at least, England will be hoping for a change in fortunes.

"These are the circumstances we have to deal with," conceded Strauss. "They are not ideal, no-one would say they are ideal, and we've got to make the best of the situation.

"From my point of view that means captaining the side to the best of my ability and now I've got a bit of a longer run to try to gel the side in terms of winning this series - what happens after that we're just going to have to wait and see how these guys get through their injuries.

"This series against Pakistan is a really good gauge for us to see how far we need to go before the Ashes and I think we're really confident we can win this series."

Having had four players reach centuries during the drawn opening Test - Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood, Strauss and Ian Bell - England have decided not to strengthen their batting for Old Trafford by including off-spinning all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple.

Called into the Test squad for the first time, Dalrymple was released with a day to spare with England considering left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Panesar is likely to keep his place with Sajid Mahmood favourite to oust Jon Lewis for the final seamer's role.

If you need to draw on inspiration you only have to look back on that Test match

ANDREW STRAUSS

CAPTION(S):

England captain Andrew Strauss during a practice session at Old Trafford yesterday Picture: DAVID KENDALL/PA