Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are still the centre of attention but it is England's foot soldiers, not their superstars, who Andrew Strauss needs to worry about ahead of tomorrow's Second Test.

The precise state of the relationship between Pietersen and Flintoff continues to generate plenty of speculation. Whether it is good, bad or indifferent, few people would bet against Pietersen again emerging as the team's leading run-scorer or Flintoff being the bowler to turn to when inspiration is needed.

That was the case in Jamaica - though it did not prevent England from losing to the West Indies by an innings after being shot out for 51 second time around - and Strauss (below) can put a tick alongside their names when it comes to working out who might be a match-winner in Antigua.

But where else can the captain look with confidence?

When England were producing their best Test cricket for 20 years - in 2004 and 2005, with West Indies (twice), New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia all beaten - one player after another stepped up to the plate.

Everyone scored vital runs at some stage, all the bowlers had their magical spells and spectacular fielding feats were shared around.

Despite last week's shattering defeat at Sabina Park, England are still capable of taking this four-match series but they need more than just their big two to perform. Men such as Strauss and Paul Collingwood do not need to look back too far to realise that is perfectly possible.

Eleven months ago, Michael Vaughan's England were facing a series loss in New Zealand after a dire defeat in Hamilton.

And although injured Flintoff was absent for the Wellington Test and Pietersen contributed little with the bat, the under pressure team came up trumps thanks to Collingwood, Tim Ambrose, Jimmy Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom.

Collingwood and now reserve keeper Ambrose put together a vital seventh-wicket stand, with the later making a century, before Anderson grabbed five wickets and then Sidebottom followed suit in the second innings. A series that could have been lost ended up being won.

"When you win in those situations it makes it all worthwhile," said Collingwood. "You've got to go through these real lows to get to your real highs and it is amazing how these sorts of situations can bring the best out of teams.

"Hopefully this is a wake-up call for us to start winning again. Everybody is desperate to do this, we are very confident we can bounce back.

"We realise we have the players in the dressing room to do it. We can't just paint over the cracks and say it is hunky dory. We have to do it."

Meanwhile, confirmation that England's cricketers have played their first and last 20 million dollar match against Sir Allen Stanford's Superstars is imminent.

But while Stanford will pull the plug on a controversial contest which looked doomed even before Pietersen's England were humiliated by 10 wickets in Antigua last November, the Texan businessman is said to be committed to the annual quadrangular tournament at Lord's - the first of which will take place this May.