Cricket: Strauss says ODIs as important as tests

CAPE TOWN - England batsman Andrew Strauss says that performing well in the one-day series was as important as doing well in test matches.

England lost twice in three days against South Africa and trail the home team 2-1 in the seven-match series with three games to be played.

In January England claimed a 2-1 victory in the five test series, which has raised English expectations for this year's Ashes series against Australia.

With teams playing at least 20 one-day internationals each year, and sometimes closer to 30, suggestions have been made that the shorter form of the game is not as important as test matches.

"I think it is just as important to have a strong England one-day side as it is to have a strong test side," Strauss, who scored 656 runs in the test series at an average of 72.88, said.

"If we are trying to develop our one day game for the World Cup in 2007 we must make use of every series between now and then."

Strauss opened the batting in the tests with distinction but has been deployed in the middle order in the one day series and has yet to reach the same level of performance.

In four innings he has only scored 69 runs at an average of 17.25 with a top score of 35. But he is not reading too much into the 'slump'.

"I'm learning a new role in the middle order and I am enjoying it," Strauss said. "The secret is to not be under too much pressure.

"I'm trying to learn from how the South African middle order of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs have played.

"I don't get too carried away when I do well and I don't get too carried away when I do badly, so I'm not going to lose sleep over it."

The teams meet in the fifth match in East London on Wednesday.

- REUTERS