Former England opener Geoff Boycott has warned Andrew Strauss against complacency and says the skipper can expect a short-ball barrage in the Test series against South Africa.
Strauss made his first hundred in 18 months in the first Test of the summer against West Indies at Lord’s. His 122 set up England’s victory charge and he was a relieved man after silencing his critics from within cricket’s sport betting community.
“It was lovely to score that hundred and when you do that in a winning cause it makes it all the more special,” Strauss said in his post-match interview.
“It has been a little while coming, there’s been a bit of chat and it’s good to get the monkey off my back.”
However, Boycott has urged Strauss to stay grounded and work on his game ahead of the South Africa series.
“Everyone is going to be happy that the captain made runs. When he reached his hundred you could see the relief and delight in Andrew’s face,” Boycott told Sports24.
“Although he played nice and straight, when the ball is short he still has a problem. He doesn’t use his feet. He doesn’t move his back foot back and across – he just jumps in the air.”
The cricket betting markets were shook when Strauss was dismissed for only one in the second innings as England chased 191 for victory. Windies paceman Kemar Roach removed the England captain twice at Lord’s with short of length deliveries.
“The century will have given him some confidence, but he needs to work on that because he will definitely face plenty of short balls when South Africa come along later this summer,” Boycott added.
“Dale Steyn is quicker than Kemar Roach and a far better bowler. Morne Morkel is a tall man who gets bounce allied to his pace. They will give him a working over.”