Captain Andrew Strauss played down talk of leading England in their defence of the Ashes after overseeing a three-wicket win here at Edgbaston that saw the side end their one-day series against Pakistan all square at 2-2.

Strauss has skippered England since the end of the home Test series against Sri Lanka in June, when Andrew Flintoff was sidelined with an ankle injury.

At the time England chiefs said that, with last year's Ashes-winning skipper Michael Vaughan already ruled out of the return with a recurrence of his longstanding knee problem, Flintoff would captain the side in Australia later this year.

But England coach Duncan Fletcher is known to be concerned at the extra workload the captaincy would impose on the already heavily-burdened Flintoff, although chairman of selectors David Graveney and third selector Geoff Miller are still thought to be keen on the Lancashire all-rounder skippering the side.

England are due to name their Ashes squad on Tuesday at The Oval, a year to the day since a dramatic draw at the south London ground saw them win an Ashes series for the first time in 19 years.

And Strauss said the fact that England had come from 2-0 down in a five-match one-day series against Pakistan should have no effect on the Ashes leadership. "I don't think it should have any bearing whatsoever.

"I've been captain of the side since June and I think they (the selectors) have got a fair idea of what sort of captain I am and likewise with Fred (Flintoff). It's obviously getting close to the time to make that decision.

"It's an important time for the selectors to gather their thoughts and decide who's the best man for the job.

"I haven't spent too much time thinking about it," Strauss also told reporters after England had made heavy weather of chasing the 155 they needed for victory here Sunday.

"What's been more important has been trying to get back into this series, which we've done well."

The 29-year-old left-handed opening batsman added: "Sure, I'd love to do the job in Australia if asked. But I've said all along it's for other people to judge who is the best man to lead that side."

Under Strauss, England were thrashed 5-0 by Sri Lanka in a one-day series before defeating Pakistan 3-0 in a four-match Test campaign, a result including an unprecedented win by forfeit following last month's ball-tampering row at The Oval

and then battling back in the one-dayers against Inzamam-ul-Haq's men.

For a side that has been without the likes of Ashes stars Vaughan, Flintoff, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles, Strauss said he was pleased with England's progress this season.

"It's been tough, there have been times when things haven't gone our way and we haven't played as well as we'd liked to.

"But, at the back end of the summer we've come back strong. What encourages me most is that young guys, like Sajid Mahmood, Jamie Dalrymple amd Mike Yardy have come in and shown they are ready to play at international level.

"That means there is a bit more depth in English cricket now, it's not all about the 11 that played in the Ashes, and I think that's a healthy state to be in," Strauss explained.

England's victory Sunday owed much to man-of-the-match Mahmood. The 24-year-old fast bowler, often expensive at this level, took a miserly two for 24 in 10 overs.

Then, after England collapsed to 118 for seven, Mahmood held his nerve with the bat to score an unbeaten 22, with three successive fours off Rana Naved taking the hosts to the brink of victory.

Mahmood, the son of Pakistani immigrants, was booed by large numbers of Pakistan fans in a sell-out 21,000 crowd unhappy with him playing for England.

"He showed what he could do in the Test series. Transfering that to the one-day arena has been tough for him," said Strauss of Mahmood.

"He's bowled at difficult times but he's got a lot of character and he wants to improve.

"He's got a great attitude and he showed a cool head to see us home."

And as for the jeering, Strauss said: "I know Saj does all his talking on the pitch and that's the way it should be."

Before the Ashes, England compete next month in the ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in India.

England have won just two of their last 12 completed one-day internationals but an upbeat Strauss said: "We've always said on our day we can beat any side in the world but we are going to have to play at our best. That's something we've not done often enough in the last 12 months.

"Now's the time for us to start doing that. The World Cup's not far away."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)