Strauss relishing India challenge

Strauss will make a guest appearance for Somerset at Taunton this week. England captain Andrew Strauss says he's relishing the chance to take on India in the coming four-match Test series which begins later this month.

India are the top-ranked side in Test cricket, and Strauss admits that they will likely pose a tougher challenge than previous opponents Sri Lanka.

He said: "We definitely have the capability to beat [them] but we are not going to win this series without playing at our very best."

The series begins at Lord's on 21 July.

England go into the contest in an optimistic frame of mind after a 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka and a 3-2 victory in the one-day international series.

England will need to improve - Strauss

But Strauss warned: "It's a huge challenge - the number one Test side coming over here, it's a really strong test to see how far we have come as a team.

"From a pure cricketing side, playing the number one Test side in the world, there's no bigger challenge than that." Strauss relishing India challenge

Strauss will use a guest appearance for Somerset in their three-day game against India to get used to the visitors' bowling attack.

That game, which starts at Taunton on Friday, will also give him a chance to rediscover his form with the bat.

The unusual opportunity for Strauss to play for Somerset only came about because his own county Middlesex were without a fixture.

No pressure to score runs - Trott

The England skipper said he was pleased Somerset offered him the chance but does not envisage it becoming a regular thing.

Strauss's England and Middlesex team-mates Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn, meanwhile, are also itching to take on India at their home ground next week.

Morgan knows what to expect from India, who arrived in England on Tuesday fresh from a 1-0 Test series victory in the West Indies.

"It will be huge - especially where they're at in the world at the moment, a fantastic side," the Irishman said of an Indian side which includes the highest scoring batsman in Test history, Sachin Tendulkar.

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