England v West Indies: Andrew Strauss determined to lead England ever higher As the captain who has led England to No 1, as well as back-to-back Ashes victories, Strauss still has much in the credit column. But all leaders, however secure, need to feel they are contributing to the campaign and Strauss, with just one hundred in 49 Test innings, has not done that for a while with the bat. Happily, he has a good record at Lord's, his home county ground and the place where he made a hundred on his Test debut, so if there is anywhere to lay any doubts to rest it is here. "I think it's a great place to start," said Strauss. I've had a lot of success here and we've had a lot of success here as well, so my feelings are very similar to that of the team - just really motivated and excited to get out there and start the summer on a high note. His team certainly rallied around him when hard questions over his form were being asked in Sri Lanka recently, but then a leader who has been as thoughtful and fair-minded as he has, should expect nothing less. After all, even a dictatorial captain might expect his team to back him in public. "It's better than them not being supportive of me," said Strauss jokingly. Look, it was obviously a big issue at the end of the winter and I recognise as captain and as an opening batsman that I need to contribute. It didn't feel like a witch hunt, it just felt like the issue of the day which is what happens. I think we all know that the only way to switch attention elsewhere is to go out and perform and that's what I intend to do. As a back foot player, he'll certainly prefer the extra pace on the ball the West Indies bowlers will impart, though Darren Sammy, his opposite number, bowls the kind of brisk medium swingers and seamers that, when pitched up, have been his undoing in the past. Runs are not a given even when considering the pedigree in the West Indies bowling department. The damp start to the season has meant tricky batting conditions for most and Lord's is unlikely to prove the exception over the next few days, especially if there is cloud cover. Unlike their county counterparts they will have use of the heavy roller, which may flatten out the denting (due to the soft surfaces) that has helped to contribute to batsmen's woes here this season. England have won every home Test series since Strauss and Andy Flower took charge in 2009. That dominance, in home conditions, has mostly been due to the excellence of the bowling. In this Test, Tim Bresnan, Steve Finn and Graham Onions, are vying for one place with Bresnan the favourite, given he was the man in possession before being struck by an elbow injury in the UAE. But so confident is Strauss in all their abilities that it seems any one of them will do to join the trusted trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann. "The five bowlers we have could all do a job on pretty much any wicket so in some ways we have an embarrassment of riches," said Strauss. That makes it a pretty easy decision because I don't think it is a crucial. With Kemar Roach not missing a Lord's Test under any circumstance, the West Indies will probably leave out their off-spinner Shane Shillingford and play an all pace attack with batsmen Marlon Samuels providing any spin required. By comparison, their batting has struggled especially when Shivnarine Chanderpaul has failed to bat at least 50 overs. One certainty on Thursday is that Jonathan Bairstow will be making his Test debut. Nasser Hussain always used to talk about the invigoration a new young face can bring to the dressing-room and Bairstow, with his fiery hair and attitude, is certainly a live wire. "He's a really exciting talent," confirmed Strauss. He's shown glimpses of it in the shorter forms of the game and his first-class record is excellent and he can play the game at a number of different paces as well. For a guy batting at No 6 that is that is a great attribute to have. He is young and enthusiastic and it's been great having him around because it just reminds us all how special it is to be representing your country. The ICC mace Strauss received also came with a cheque yesterday for $175,000 (£110,000), which is to be increased to $475,000 (£300,000) next year. Not much when you split it at least 20 ways, as England will need to do. But then the kudos of being the best Test team should be enough, an accolade, starting with a win against West Indies here, England will want to hang on to for the foreseeable future.