Strauss out to return fire

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Attention has understandably been drawn to South Africa's array of fast bowling talent - headed by Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel - preparing to face England on Thursday.

But Middlesex left-hander Strauss said: "The pace on the ball provides scoring opportunities as well. If they bowl well it's going to be hard work but if they're slightly off line there may well be more opportunities to score than, say, (against) the New Zealand bowlers who were very disciplined but with not quite so much pace."

He added: "All it boils down to in the end is how well they're going to bowl and how clear you are in your gameplan about how you're going to counteract that."

How successful England are in achieving that will go a long way towards deciding the series as they chase their first Test victory at Lord's for seven matches - when they beat Bangladesh at the start of the 2005 summer.

It is going to be a very different challenge to that provided by New Zealand in recent months and Strauss admitted: "The New Zealand series tested us in very different ways.

"That attritional type of cricket in some ways is harder to play because you're fighting with yourself a lot of the time, whereas against South Africa you're pitting yourself against the opposition a little bit more.

"They're trying to get you out, you're trying not to give an inch in your own right.

"I think the opening batsmen have got a crucial role to play against their bowling attack.

"Both Alastair Cook and I are aware of that and the fact we need to do well to help out the team, and if we do that it will provide a good platform for the others to go out and play their shots."